Niantic, the company behind the popular AR game Pokemon Go, has launched a new visual interface called Niantic Studio for developers to create 3D and mixed reality games and experiences. The tool is web-based, free to use for 8th Wall developers, and in public beta.

Niantic Studio provides a visual editor that allows developers to easily add interactivity, physics, cameras, lighting, animation, particles, audio, game triggers, and more with a few clicks. It also includes a new gaming engine designed to aid developers with complex development tasks, including interaction and gameplay for XR projects.

It also offers editable live play and simulation, enabling developers to build, edit, and preview 3D scenes in real time. Further, it provides access to web-based XR functionalities like Face Effects and World Tracking, and it can be distributed through Niantic's Metaversal Deployment.

Analyst QuickTake: The move to a visual editor from a code-based interface will flatten the learning curve for new developers in creating mixed reality experiences. Further, Niantic recently supported creating XR experiences through 8th Wall for the Apple Vision Pro.