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.

Meet Alessandro Straccia, a Creative Technologist from Brazil and a valuable member of the Niantic 8th Wall Community. Alessandro recently released his book, “Interactive Web Development with Three.js and A-Frame.” Alessandro used his eight years of experience with Three.js and as a Creative Technologist to provide many insights for beginners. He also used this book to spark inspiration for developers and non-developers to start exploring the many ways you can build creative and captivating experiences. 

We sat down with Alessandro for a Q&A to delve deeper into his AR journey and explore how he's using Niantic 8th Wall to craft more real-world use cases for WebAR. 

Meet Corbin Ordel, a multimedia creative artist and interactive engineer dynamic. Corbin opened his production studio in 2018, he has worked with a wide group of agencies and teams on projects that span traditional AR/VR/XR experiences, WebGL networked multiplayer games, animated films, bespoke app development, and live performance.

A graduate of the Interactive Telecommunications Program at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Corbin uses a background in creative coding and immersive technology to make cutting-edge work in the consumer market and creative arts.

We're excited to announce our summer developer challenge, the "Explore Together: Location-Based AR Challenge." For the first time, the 8th Wall and Lightship communities will come together, pushing the limits of what can be achieved with AR. This challenge, running from May 6th to June 24th, calls on you to leverage our powerful Visual Positioning System (VPS) to create innovative, location-based AR experiences that bring real-world locations to life.

VPS connects the real world with the digital one by anchoring AR content to locations with unprecedented accuracy and precision. This enables location-based augmented reality experiences that feel more personal and gives users new reasons to explore the world around them.

Meet João Pedro Vaz Pratas, a dynamic Creative Developer at Darabase, who began his journey in augmented reality development with 8th Wall around four years ago during the first COVID lockdown in the UK. His expertise in JavaScript development, particularly in the realm of WebXR development using React, TypeScript, and three.js (with AFRAME or pure three.js), has positioned him as a leader in creating immersive AR experiences that seamlessly integrate with real-world contexts.

We sat down with Joao for a Q&A to delve deeper into his AR journey and explore how he's using 8th Wall to craft captivating experiences that resonate with audiences worldwide.
 

We are thrilled to present the winners of the 8th Wall Time Capsule Challenge — an exciting journey through time that pushed the boundaries of what's possible with WebAR.

We invited the 8th Wall community to harness WebAR to weave together narratives that spanned various timelines, blending past marvels with the latest innovations. From the initial 'Info + Ideation' session to insightful webinars like '8Talks: Using WebAR for Historical Preservation' and 'Cre8te: Mastering VPS Tools for Historical AR Experiences', participants were equipped with the knowledge and tools to craft experiences that not only showcased their technical skills but also brought history to life in engaging and innovative ways.

With a generous prize pool at stake, the challenge served as a perfect platform for developers to showcase their talents, while also contributing to a larger conversation about the role of technology in preserving and celebrating our collective history.

As we reveal the Time Capsule Challenge winners, let's celebrate their creative WebAR storytelling that's redefined augmented reality. Discover the projects that have carved out their place in history.