Developers Taj Rauch and Matt Ballas crafted Western Memory, an immersive WebXR experience built using Niantic Studio. In this unique two-device game, players collaborate with a friend or stranger to navigate 3D-scanned environments, solve puzzles, and uncover the lore of a haunting digital world. With the use of QR code mechanics and Gaussian splats, Western Memory challenges players to think outside the screen while delving into a narrative-rich journey. We had the opportunity to talk with Taj and Matt about their creative process and how they brought this one-of-a-kind experience to life.

Developers Sarai Cibrian and Stephanie Meza from eenieweenie interactive created Lost in the Woods: Balloon Search, an engaging 3D puzzle game that invites players to navigate a whimsical forest alongside the curious Purple Guy. With intuitive controls, dynamic elements, and charming visuals, the game is a perfect example of how Niantic Studio empowers creators to build unique and engaging 3D web games. We had the opportunity to learn about their creative journey and how they brought Lost in the Woods to life.

Developer Camilo Medina created Doty Run, an endless runner game with dynamic gameplay, procedural generation, and innovative mechanics. Guided by the adventurous Doty, players navigate an icy trail filled with coins, obstacles, and sharp turns—all while chasing high scores. Camilo’s project highlights the power of Niantic Studio to build complex, interactive web games. We had the chance to delve into Camilo’s creative journey and learn how he brought Doty Run to life.

Developer Jessica Sheng challenges players to combine 3D objects and transform a simple park gazebo into a magical, plant-filled sanctuary in her latest creation, Splatchemy! Using a Gaussian splat captured with Niantic Scaniverse and imported into Niantic Studio, Jessica crafted a WebXR experience that blends innovation with play. In Splatchemy!, players combine objects to unlock new creations, transforming a plain park picnic area into a magical, plant-filled environment. Jessica’s project highlights the versatility of Niantic Studio, showcasing how its features can be used to create captivating and interactive experiences grounded in the real world.

We had the chance to dive into Jessica's development process and learn more about her inspiration, challenges, and the steps she took to bring Splatchemy! to life.

This holiday season, we want to give you a chance to discover, play, and celebrate the incredible creativity of the developers who built with Niantic Studio in 2024.  Over the past six months, thousands of new developers joined the platform, creating a wide range of web games and real-world experiences. To make it easier to explore and enjoy these creations, we’re introducing a new playground: nianticarcade.com 

This curated collection showcases some of the most exciting web games and experiences created since Niantic Studio launched in June. From side-scrolling adventures to endless runners to splat-based experiences, these projects demonstrate the versatility and innovation made possible with Niantic Studio. These experiences come across the Niantic 8th Wall developer community, from the Studio developer challenges, the Developer Accelerator Fund, and even a few creations from the Niantic team. 

For the initial release, our team handpicked every experience on the page. In 2025, we hope this becomes a space where developers can publish their projects for discovery by players and other creators. Have a project you’d like to see featured? Fill out this form, we’ll be reviewing new submissions in the new year.

As we close out 2024, we want to thank the incredible developer community for shaping Niantic Studio during its public beta. Your work and feedback are vital in helping Niantic Studio become the best visual interface and web gaming engine for creating real-world WebXR web games and experiences. Celebrate how far we’ve come together, and get inspired for what’s next, by heading to nianticarcade.com to start playing today.

We are thrilled to announce the Niantic Studio Real-World Gaming Challenge winners! Over the past two months, developers were tasked with creating real-world WebXR experiences using Gaussian splats and Niantic VPS (Visual Positioning System) for Web technology in Niantic Studio. With a $15,000 prize pool at stake, the challenge sparked incredible creativity, innovation, and technical excellence.

From multiplayer WebAR racing games to cultural explorations and mindfulness experiences, developers showcased the limitless possibilities of real-world WebAR. Let’s dive into the standout projects that captured the judges' attention and redefined immersive gaming.

Developer Alexandre Di Guida has crafted an exciting AR experience with his latest project, Frozen Coin Hunt Adventure. This project immerses players in a frosty adventure alongside Captain Doty, showcasing Niantic Studio’s powerful capabilities to create engaging, real-world games. Alexandre’s work exemplifies how Niantic Studio can transform creative ideas into dynamic, immersive experiences that captivate and challenge players. We had the opportunity to dive into Alexandre’s process and learn about the journey of developing Frozen Coin Hunt Adventure.

With the holiday season around the corner, it’s the perfect time to combine creativity and technology to spread some festive cheer! In a recent workshop led by George Butler, developers explored how to create real-world WebAR experiences using Niantic Visual Positioning System (VPS) in Niantic Studio. In this tutorial, we’re giving George’s original project a holiday twist. Instead of airplanes and coins, we’ll be building a delightful Santa sleigh game where Santa collects gifts while flying around a real-world location.

This step-by-step guide will walk you through the essentials of creating a VPS-enabled AR experience, complete with Santa’s sleigh, collectible gifts, and location-based interaction. By the end, you’ll have a festive game that captures the magic of the holidays. Let’s get started!

With the recent release of Niantic VPS for Niantic Studio, developers now have powerful new tools to bring the physical world into immersive WebAR experiences. Niantic VPS is a groundbreaking AR technology that lets you localize users and anchor digital content in the real world with centimeter-level precision. Whether you're designing a virtual art installation or creating interactive gameplay in urban environments, VPS guarantees that your digital creations feel firmly rooted in the real world. 

To support this innovation, we’re sharing top tips for using Niantic Scaniverse to capture real-world locations effectively.

Niantic Scaniverse enables developers to capture detailed, immersive 3D scans that bring real-world elements directly into WebAR experiences. Here are some tried-and-true best practices to help you achieve optimal results when scanning real-world objects and environments using Scaniverse.