The Meta logo is shown in this illustration from August 22, 2022. Reuters
Meta Platforms has announced that it will be closing down its augmented reality (AR) studio, Meta Spark, on January 14. This decision comes as the company decides to focus more on artificial intelligence (AI) and the metaverse, a digital realm that Meta sees as the future of the internet.
Meta Spark was a platform where third-party creators designed custom AR effects, such as filters, masks, and 3D objects, for use on Instagram and Facebook. These user-created effects will be removed from the platforms once Meta Spark shuts down. However, AR effects developed by Meta itself will continue to be available on its products like Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger.
The company stated that the closure of Meta Spark is part of its strategy to direct resources toward new technologies, including advancements in AR glasses and other next-generation experiences. In a blog post, Meta explained that this shift in focus is aimed at exploring new opportunities beyond the current AR landscape.
The news has disappointed many creators who used Meta Spark to design unique AR experiences. Some have taken to social media to express their frustration and to seek alternatives. One Facebook user questioned whether creators would move to other platforms such as Snapchat’s Lens Studio or Unity, which offer similar AR creation tools.
Snap Inc., a smaller competitor, provides Lens Studio, a free AR creation platform that allows developers to craft custom AR effects. This move by Meta might drive creators to explore these other options as Meta Spark winds down.
In addition to shutting down Meta Spark, Meta also announced earlier this year that it would end its Workplace app for external customers by June 2026. The app will continue to be used internally by the company as a messaging board.
As for existing content, Meta assured users that reels or stories featuring third-party AR effects will remain accessible. However, the AR effects and files housed in the Meta Spark studio and Meta Spark Hub will no longer be available after the shutdown.
