Niantic, the company best known for its augmented reality (AR) games like Pokémon GO, has unveiled a significant update to its Scaniverse app, signaling a bold step forward in the realms of 3D photography and spatial computing. The latest iteration, Scaniverse 4, introduces exciting features that are poised to reshape how users interact with the world around them.

Over the last two weeks, Scaniverse has rolled out incremental update one after the next to their Gaussian Splatting capability. Now, they are announcing the culmination of all that work with the release of Scaniverse 4.

As a reminder, Scaniverse is able to create hyper real 3D models using Gaussian Splatting on device. This means that you do not need to upload your data to the cloud and are able to process the captures without phone service.

Gaussian Splatting, a type of Radiance Field, has been heralded as

“the biggest change to computer graphics since real-time texture mapping in 1991,”

Brian McClendon, Niantic’s SVP of engineering and co-creator of Google Earth.

Niantic’s vision extends beyond individual 3D scans. The company aims to create a comprehensive, user-generated map of the world, where contributions from Scaniverse users are integrated with data from other Niantic platforms like Wayfarer and Ingress. This collective effort is designed to enhance the company’s existing AR infrastructure, providing a richer, more immersive experience for users.

Niantic’s ambitions with Scaniverse are not limited to photography enthusiasts. The company has also integrated Scaniverse with Niantic Studio, its WebXR editor and gaming engine, enabling developers to use these 3D scans as canvases for AR and VR experiences. This integration is a strategic move to position Niantic at the forefront of the spatial computing industry, offering tools that blend the physical and digital worlds seamlessly.

The Scaniverse update also introduces a community-driven aspect, encouraging users to share their 3D creations and explore those uploaded by others. This community, hosted on Discourse and linked to Niantic accounts, offers a space for enthusiasts—from casual photographers to XR developers—to connect and collaborate. By fostering this sense of community, Niantic hopes to accelerate the adoption and innovation of 3D scanning technology.

Developers can now create immersive experiences with centimeter-level precision, thanks to Niantic’s powerful Visual Positioning System (VPS). This feature has the potential to revolutionize the way AR and VR content is developed, making real-world environments an integral part of digital experiences.

Check out the original press release for more information. Scaniverse is also available free on both iOS and Android. However, it appears that Scaniverse 4 has not yet been released for Android at this time.