Meta Announces Closure of Augmented Reality Studio, Meta Spark, Amid Shift Towards AI and Metaverse
Meta Platforms has announced its decision to discontinue Meta Spark, the augmented reality studio extensively utilized by third-party creators to design custom effects for Instagram and Facebook. This move comes as the tech giant redirects its focus and resources towards artificial intelligence (AI) and the development of the metaverse, its envisioned successor to the mobile internet.
Scheduled to close on January 14, Meta Spark has been a pivotal platform for the creation of AR effects, including computer-generated filters, masks, and 3D objects. Post-shutdown, these third-party AR effects will be removed from the platform, although Meta’s own first-party AR effects will still be available across Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger.
The closure is part of Meta’s broader strategy to innovate and invest in next-generation experiences, particularly in new technologies like AR glasses. “With the decision to shut down the Meta Spark platform, we’re also shifting resources to the next generation of experiences, across new form factors like glasses,” Meta stated in a recent blog post.
This development has sparked disappointment among the Meta Spark user community, particularly third-party creators who have relied on the platform for their AR projects. Many are now considering alternatives such as Snapchat’s Lens Studio or Unity, both of which offer robust AR creation tools. Lens Studio, for instance, is a free platform that enables developers to create custom AR effects, providing a potential new home for creators displaced by the Meta Spark shutdown.
In addition to the closure of Meta Spark, Meta also reiterated its plan to phase out its work-focused Workplace app by June 2026, though it will continue to serve as the company’s internal messaging system until then. This is aligned with Meta’s ongoing adjustments in its product portfolio to better focus on key growth areas like AI and the metaverse.
While the decision to end Meta Spark has been met with criticism from some users, Meta assures that existing reels or stories featuring third-party AR effects will remain accessible to users. However, AR effects and files housed within the Meta Spark studio and Meta Spark Hub will no longer be available after the platform’s closure.
This shift underscores Meta’s commitment to realigning its business strategy and resource allocation towards emerging technologies that it believes will define the future of digital interaction. As Meta continues to evolve, the focus on innovative technologies such as AI and the metaverse is expected to play a crucial role in shaping the company’s trajectory in the coming years.