Sponsored By

Pokemon Go dev Niantic acquires AR studio NZXR

NZXR has worked on a number of "AR-first" experiences including interactive apps and various prototypes.

Chris Kerr, News Editor

April 6, 2022

1 Min Read

Pokemon Go maker Niantic has acquired augmented reality studio NZXR for an undisclosed fee.

Based in New Zealand, NZXR has worked on a number of "AR-first" experiences including interactive apps and prototypes for smartphones and headsets, providing engineering support on skateboarding title Skatrix and assisting with Unreal Engine-powered interactive theatre experience Destination Mars.

The deal will see NZXR become an integral part of the Niantic design and development team working on multiplayer real-world AR experiences.

"Our goal has always been to create augmented reality experiences that can be enjoyed by millions of people and to build the technology that powers them and third-party applications – Niantic Lightship," said the company.

"The NZXR team will help us accelerate new kinds of AR experiences for the real-world metaverse where our explorers can create, contribute, and interact with digital objects in a way that is persistent and shared by everyone."

In a separate blog post, NZXR said it will continue to make AR concepts tangible on in-development tech at Niantic, while also contributing to Lightship to support "a much wider development community than we ever imagined."

About the Author

Chris Kerr

News Editor, GameDeveloper.com

Game Developer news editor Chris Kerr is an award-winning journalist and reporter with over a decade of experience in the game industry. His byline has appeared in notable print and digital publications including Edge, Stuff, Wireframe, International Business Times, and PocketGamer.biz. Throughout his career, Chris has covered major industry events including GDC, PAX Australia, Gamescom, Paris Games Week, and Develop Brighton. He has featured on the judging panel at The Develop Star Awards on multiple occasions and appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live to discuss breaking news.

Daily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inbox

You May Also Like