Spark AR provides a suite of tools that enable creators to design and develop AR effects. These tools are designed to be user-friendly, allowing both beginners and experienced developers to create complex AR experiences. This week Meta announced its decision to shut down the Spark AR platform, effective January 14, 2025. This move will result in the discontinuation of third-party AR effects built by brands and independent creators, leaving only Meta-owned AR effects available across its platforms.
According to TechCrunch, the decision has sparked significant backlash from the creator community, many of whom relied on Spark AR as a vital part of their livelihood. The sudden announcement, made through a Meta blog post, has left creators frustrated and uncertain about their future, with some calling the move disrespectful and urging Meta to reconsider.
Meta’s rationale for the shutdown, following what it describes as a “thorough assessment,” appears to be part of a broader strategy to prioritize other products, likely linked to its AI initiatives. Despite the sizable traction Spark AR had gained since its launch in 2017, with billions of uses and hundreds of millions of users, Meta’s decision seems to overlook the impact on the creator community.
The Alt Reality world is going through a period of change that means the big companies, like Meta, that have spent billions building up expectations, are having to rethink their approach in light of big losses, and big costs. Whether it is Meta, Sony, o rApple, the repercussions remain unknow. As far as Meta is concerned, we will know more about where the company is going with all this after its Connect conference at the end of September. So, the commitment to Alt Reality seems to be there, but the direction the market will take remains as uncertain as ever and the opportunities for real business seem as vague as ever.
