8th Wall Opens the Technology Behind Its WebAR Platform

• The company shut down its hosted WebAR platform on February 28, 2026 and moved the technology to a public project at 8thwall.org.
• The open release includes the engine framework, AR feature modules, developer tools, and a documented open source governance model.

Nearly a decade of XR engine development at 8th Wall is now open-source and available to everyone. On February 28, the company shut down its hosted platform, retiring the login system, cloud editor, and web-based Studio. The technology now continues as a public project at 8thwall.org.

The release includes an open-source version of the engine framework and several AR features, including face effects, image targets, and sky effects. The code is published under an MIT license. A Distributed Engine Binary released in January includes 8th Wall's powerful SLAM and is available under a binary license for commercial and noncommercial use. The SLAM engine itself is not part of the open source framework.

Several supporting tools are also available, including starter templates, feature demos, and a command-line tool for creating image targets. A cleaned snapshot of the original monorepo is available for reference. The repository also documents a formal open-source governance model with contribution guidelines and decision-making processes, with additional releases planned over the next month, including documentation on GitHub, a desktop app, ECS runtime components, an MCP server, and more sample projects.

🌀 Tom’s Take:

Open-sourcing the engine could change the trajectory of the browser itself. If developers can evolve the framework as web standards shift, the browser could become a permanent home for immersive experiences rather than just a place to launch them.

Source: 8th Wall / Niantic Spatial

Disclosure: Tom Emrich has previously worked with or holds interests in companies mentioned. His commentary is based solely on public information and reflects his personal views.