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.

Camilo Medina is a skilled developer who began his journey with Niantic 8th Wall in July 2023 at the Niantic Developer World Tour in Paris. Immediately captivated by 8th Wall’s cross-platform capabilities, Camilo found the platform’s tools perfect for creating and deploying immersive AR experiences. With expertise in game design, coding, and marketing, Camilo brings a dynamic skill set to his projects. His passion for coding—particularly in developing mechanics that make digital objects interactive in real-world settings—is evident in his innovative AR work. We spoke with Camilo about his journey with Niantic Studio, recent projects, and his vision for the future of AR.

We’re excited to announce the Niantic Studio Real-World Gaming Challenge, a brand-new opportunity for developers to create immersive, real-world games using Niantic Studio’s cutting-edge tools. Running from October 24th to December 9th, this challenge invites developers to push the boundaries of location-based gaming with the help of Gaussian splats and Niantic VPS technology. With a $15,000 prize pool up for grabs, this challenge is the perfect stage for you to showcase your creativity and technical expertise.

This challenge will ask you to build with either Gaussian splats or Niantic VPS in Niantic Studio. Niantic VPS allows you to anchor AR content with centimeter-level precision across 600,000+ VPS-activated locations worldwide. With Niantic Scaniverse, you can also scan and activate custom locations, bringing your AR creations to life in real-world environments.

With VPS and Studio’s web gaming engine, you can now take your AR experiences further by:

• Adding dynamic elements like animation, lighting, and physics 
• Creating persistent experiences that evolve as users return to the same location 
• Build real-time interactive gameplay that responds to a user’s environment 

We are thrilled to present the Niantic Studio Create & Play Developer Challenge winners—a celebration of innovation, creativity, and community engagement. Over the past few months, developers across the globe have shown their incredible talent and passion for building immersive and fun web gaming experiences using Niantic Studio. With a wide range of submissions, from face-tracking rhythm games to location-based XR experiences to splatified adventures, participants pushed the boundaries of what's with Niantic Studio’s WebXR and 3D Web tools.

The Create & Play Challenge was designed to empower developers to express their creativity and bring unique gaming experiences to life, leveraging the diverse capabilities of Niantic Studio. Participants were equipped with a wealth of resources through our challenge programming sessions. We hosted workshops and deep dives, providing hands-on support to help developers bring their projects to life. 

Let’s take a closer look at the standout projects that have captured the judges' attention and showcased the limitless potential of our platform.

At Niantic, we believe in the power of creativity and the potential of immersive technology to transform the way we interact with the world around us. Our platform, Niantic 8th Wall, has been at the forefront of WebXR development, empowering developers and creators to build extraordinary augmented reality experiences that blend the physical and digital worlds. With our recent launch of Niantic Studio, our intuitive visual editor for WebXR and 3D content creation, we’ve made it easier than ever for developers to bring their ideas to life.

In our recent workshop, we walked through how to use Niantic Studio to bring in a Gaussian Splat from Scaniverse and build a game on top of it. Watch the recap video or read this step-by-step guide to learn how to import a splat, add physics colliders, animate a car, and configure camera movements—all essential skills for creating interactive, real-world experiences. Follow along to build your own game using these powerful tools.

Marley Kanui is a talented Senior WebXR Developer at Groove Jones who has been leveraging Niantic 8th Wall to create standout AR experiences since 2021. With a strong background in WebGL, Three.js, React, and more, Marley is known for his focus on optimization and seamless integration to create smooth, engaging AR experiences. Marley’s expertise and innovative approach continue to push the boundaries of what's possible in AR development as shown in his work on the Hope for Haiti project to build an interactive experience aimed at raising funds for a non-profit.

We caught up with Marley to discuss his experience with 8th Wall, his recent projects at Groove Jones, and his thoughts on the future of AR development.

Meet Declan Johnson, an innovative AR developer and a prominent member of the Niantic 8th Wall community. With a background in VR and game development, Declan has been a pivotal figure in creating gamified WebXR content for both marketing and educational purposes. His journey with Niantic 8th Wall began in 2021, and since then, he has become an expert in leveraging the platform's capabilities to build immersive and accessible AR experiences. 

Declan's passion lies in making AR more inclusive and inspiring others to join the XR space. Recently, he has been building with our new visual editor and web gaming engine, Niantic Studio,  to continue to push the boundaries of what's possible in WebXR. We caught up with Declan to learn more about his journey, his work with Niantic Studio so far, and his vision for the future of AR.

We are thrilled to introduce our latest challenge, the "Create & Play Developer Challenge." This exciting event invites you to explore the all-new Niantic Studio, an intuitive, powerful visual editor designed to simplify the creation of immersive WebXR and 3D games. Running from August 5th to September 30th, this challenge offers developers a unique opportunity to showcase their creativity and technical skills while competing for a chance to win from a $10,000 prize pool.

Niantic Studio transforms the web game development process, making it accessible for developers of all skill levels. By providing a visual interface, it bridges the gap between ideation and realization, enabling real-time feedback and simplifying complex development tasks. Whether you're a seasoned developer or new to web game and WebXR development, Niantic Studio offers the tools you need to bring your creative visions to life.

We are thrilled to present the winners of the Explore Together Challenge — an exciting look into the world of location-based AR experiences using VPS.

Over the past two months, we invited the 8th Wall and Lightship communities to create immersive AR experiences that connect the digital and physical worlds. From our initial 'Info + Ideation: Explore Together' session to the hands-on 'Niantic AR Workshop: Mastering Location-Based AR with VPS' and the inspiring 'AR Voices: Bringing Underrepresented History to Life with VPS', participants were provided with a wealth of knowledge and resources to fuel their creativity.

With a substantial prize pool up for grabs, this challenge was the perfect opportunity for developers to demonstrate their skills and push the boundaries of what’s possible with location-based AR. 

These projects have not only showcased technical prowess but have also highlighted the transformative potential of AR in connecting us to our surroundings in new and meaningful ways. Discover the creations that have set new standards in location-based AR storytelling.