Meta's Spark AR: The End of an Era (or is it?)
Remember those fun filters you used to love on Instagram and Facebook? The ones that made your eyes sparkle, turned you into a cartoon character, or even added a virtual pet to your selfie? Those were powered by Meta's Spark AR platform. But guess what? Meta recently pulled the plug on it!
What happened?
Apparently, Meta decided to focus on its core business and prioritize its investments elsewhere. They officially announced the discontinuation of the Spark AR platform on June 30, 2023. This means that developers can no longer create new AR effects, and existing ones will eventually stop working.
The Impact on Creators
This news has left many creators in the augmented reality community feeling bummed. The platform was popular for its ease of use and accessibility, allowing even non-coders to create cool AR experiences. Many creators built entire businesses around Spark AR, relying on it for income.
What's Next for AR?
Meta's decision to discontinue Spark AR has fueled speculation about the future of AR technology. Will AR just fade away, or is this a temporary setback? It's tough to say for sure.
The Good News (Maybe?)
Despite the sadness, there might be a silver lining. Meta has emphasized its commitment to AR in the long term. It's possible that we'll see a new AR platform emerge from Meta, or perhaps they'll rebrand Spark AR and bring it back with new features and functionality.
What should you do?
If you're a creator who used Spark AR, there's no need to panic just yet. Your existing effects will continue to work for a while, and Meta has provided guidance for migrating your projects to other platforms.
The future of AR is still being written – we can only wait and see what Meta (and other tech giants) have planned!