Today, Meta announced that it is shutting down Spark AR Studio, a platform that allowed creators and brands to create their own AR effects. Spark AR launched in 2017, empowering hundreds of thousands of developers to create AR effects. In 2020, Meta announced that Spark AR had become the largest mobile AR platform, with over 400,000 developers in 190 countries creating millions of AR effects for Facebook and Instagram.
Timeline and Impact
On January 14, 2025, Meta will stop supporting all third-party face filters and AR effects on Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger, as well as the tools used to create them. However, Meta’s own AR effects will continue to work. We’ll keep you updated on any changes to this timeline as they become available.
Spark allowed for face filters like those on TikTok, which could age your face or turn you into a cartoon character. For example, the predictive mask was very popular. The platform has also been used to develop AR games and ads.
Videos that use Spark-powered AR effects will remain available on Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger, according to the company’s FAQ regarding the changes. This means that while new effects cannot be created, existing content using these effects will still be accessible, notes NIXsolutions.
Preserving AR Effects
Anyone who wants to save AR effects created with Spark can do so by following the instructions provided in Meta’s FAQ. It’s important for creators and brands who have invested time and resources into developing AR effects to take action to preserve their work before the platform’s closure.
The shutdown of Spark AR Studio marks a significant change in Meta’s approach to augmented reality content creation. While the company will continue to offer its own AR effects, the closure of this platform may impact the diversity and volume of AR content available across Meta’s social media platforms.
As the deadline approaches, we can expect more information from Meta regarding the transition process and any potential alternatives for AR content creation. We’ll keep you updated on any developments or additional guidance provided by Meta to assist creators and users affected by this change.