The world’s first WebAR development platform will help Niantic Lightship developers bring their vision of the metaverse to the real world using augmented reality.
With the acquisition of 8th Wall, Niantic will now be able to offer one of the most complete ecosystems of AR tools for creating a metaverse in the real world. Companies and developers around the world will be able to work with augmented reality using web-based tools that do not require an application.
“From the beginning, we wanted to create augmented reality technology that would allow people to connect with others, discover new places, and play with their friends in the real world. To achieve this, we are merging physical and digital to create the world’s most accurate 3D map of the planet,” said Brian McClendon, vice president of engineering, mapping and augmented reality at Niantic.
“With our Lightship platform launched globally last November, we offer all developers the world’s largest immersive canvas to bring their large-scale creations to life. 8th Wall, our largest acquisition to date, greatly complements our Lightship vision, and we plan to expand our developer platform tools with their proven WebAR technology.”
Eric Murphy-Chutorian, CEO and Founder of 8th Wall, adds: “We are thrilled to be part of the Niantic family as we join an incredible team dedicated to the future of AR built for the real world. Together, we will empower developers to create augmented reality that encourages people to connect, discover new places, and explore the world around them. As we continue our journey with Niantic, we will empower more developers, agencies and brands to bring their vision of AR and the metaverse to life in the real world. ”
8th Wall will significantly strengthen Niantic in augmented reality for the metaverse
For nearly four years, the 8th Wall WebAR development platform has been used by developers to create over 50,000 experiences, including thousands for top brands. 8th Wall supports billions of devices worldwide, including five billion iOS and Android smartphones, as well as computers and AR/VR headsets. The 8th Wall tool has been used by agencies and creative studios to design augmented reality activations for famous brands such as Pepsi, Microsoft, Nike, Porsche, Netflix, Heineken, LEGO, General Mills, Dior, Universal Pictures, Westfield, Verizon, and many more.