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Niantic acquires AR mapping company 6D.ai

Location-based game developer working on dynamic, 3D map of the world

Pokémon GO developer Niantic has acquired AR mapping company 6D.ai, it announced in a blog post today.

6D.ai was spun off of Oxford University's Active Vision Lab in 2017, and has since been working on technology and software tools to solve AR development challenges.

Alongside Niantic, 6D.ai will aid with the construction of a "dynamic, 3D map of the world" for "planet-scale AR experiences."

"Joining Niantic will provide us more reach, strengthen our resources, and bring together some of the best minds in both AR software development and research," said 6D.ai CEO Matt Miesnieks.

"The combination of our teams is a major step for the AR industry as we get even closer toward building the 3D map of the world."

Miesnieks added that 6D.ai would be winding down its current developer tools over the next 30 days, and shifting focus to the Niantic Real World Platform.

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Rebekah Valentine

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Rebekah arrived at GamesIndustry in 2018 after four years of freelance writing and editing across multiple gaming and tech sites. When she's not recreating video game foods in a real life kitchen, she's happily imagining herself as an Animal Crossing character.