The Niantic Studio: Real-World Impact Challenge is here! Running from February 10th to March 31st, this challenge invites developers to create meaningful WebAR experiences that drive social impact, celebrate culture, and explore storytelling through immersive technology. 

Wall Bop is an audiovisual WebAR experience that transforms a mural by Kel Brown in Austin, Texas into an interactive musical memory game. Developed by Lauren Schroeder, the game invites players to tap on different sections of the mural, triggering animations and sounds, and challenging them to repeat a musical sequence correctly. Using Niantic Studio and Niantic VPS, Lauren mapped the game precisely to the mural’s location, blending the real and digital worlds in an engaging new way.

We spoke with Lauren about the creative process behind Wall Bop, the challenges of integrating WebAR with physical art, and how Niantic Studio helped bring the project to life.

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.