Niantic Studio keeps getting better with every update as we roll out new features and improvements. With our latest update, we’re excited to introduce the all-new UI Toolkit, giving you more control than ever when building user interfaces and 2D objects in Studio.

We're thrilled to launch Image Targets in Niantic Studio! This groundbreaking feature empowers you to build interactive augmented reality (AR) experiences triggered by physical images—without extensive coding. Whether you're a solo developer or part of an agency, this update streamlines the process of crafting immersive AR projects that seamlessly blend with the real world.

We're always adding new tools to Niantic Studio to help you build more engaging and complex WebXR experiences and 3D web games. Today, we're rolling out Niantic Maps for Web and Spaces, two features that make creating location-based experiences and multi-level gameplay easier than ever.

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’re excited to announce the launch of two powerful new features—backend proxies and backend functions—as the first of our Backend Services in Niantic Studio. These tools bring new capabilities to Niantic Studio, equipping developers to handle backend logic and integrate external services directly into their WebAR and web games. Integrating Backend Services is  a key milestone in expanding the flexibility and power of Niantic Studio, opening the door to more complex, secure, and dynamic AR applications.

Backend functions: Enabling secure and sophisticated web game logic 
Backend functions allow you to write server-side logic that integrates seamlessly with client-side code. This unlocks new possibilities for adding advanced, secure game mechanics to WebXR applications, such as anti-cheat to ensure fair play. 

In our Hangman-inspired sample project, backend functions store the words and the game logic on the backend, while the client handles and tracks player stats like current progress on the word and letters already guessed. With each request to the server, these states are securely stored and updated in real time, demonstrating how backend functions can manage core game components and maintain data integrity between the client and the server. This server-side processing means anti-cheat systems can be implemented, preventing players from tampering with the game data stored locally in their browser. 

We're excited to announce that Niantic VPS for Web is now fully integrated into Niantic Studio, giving developers a powerful new way to build, test, and deploy location-based WebAR experiences with unmatched precision. This update combines the power of the Niantic Visual Positioning System (VPS) with Niantic Studio’s intuitive visual interface, making creating WebAR content that seamlessly interacts with the digital world easier than ever. 

Niantic Studio’s public beta keeps getting better as we continue to roll out new features and improvements. With our September updates, we’re excited to introduce expanded 2D UI support, the addition of FBX and TTF file support, and enhanced asset control editing for complex 3D objects. These updates give you more control, flexibility and ease when building in Niantic Studio, no matter your experience level. 

Optimized 2D UI editing for mobile and headset experiences 
This month’s key highlight is our enhanced support for building and refining 2D elements. Now, you have more granular control over how user interfaces are configured and optimized for mobile and headset experiences, with the ability to place 2D elements—like buttons, images, and text—precisely in both 3D space and absolute space. This flexibility allows for more versatile UI layouts and better adaptation across different devices.

In the new 2D UI builder, you can fine-tune elements such as color, borders, text, opacity, and more. The builder also allows you to combine multiple 2D elements on a single canvas to create compound 2D graphics and interfaces. For even greater efficiency, you can now edit and modify these elements in real-time within the Studio Viewport, with changes instantly reflected in the Simulator.

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.

As developers, brands, and agencies finalize their holiday campaigns, we’re excited to announce a major update to our commercial license.  Starting today, September 4, 2024, commercial licenses for Niantic 8th Wall now start at just $700 per project per month—down from $3,000 per month. 

We hope this reduction makes launching commercial WebAR campaigns more accessible and enables you to create exceptional content for your clients.  Whether you’re planning a big holiday push or looking to explore more with WebAR, our latest pricing change is designed to help you and your clients experience the power of WebAR. 

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