Apple showed some major updates to its AR platform and revealed that ARKit 2 in iOS 12 includes shared experiences.
Demos offered on stage during Apple’s developer conference included one from Lego that promised up to four players who could see the same digital environment. The app even featured object recognition to incorporate real-world Lego creations into the experience.
Google recently announced a “Cloud Anchors” feature that promises similar functionality and other startups like 6D.AI are working in the same area. It will be interesting to see how well the Apple feature works and if it functions without an Internet connection.
Here’s how Apple describes its new features in ARKit 2:
Shared experiences with ARKit 2 make AR even more engaging on iPhone and iPad, allowing multiple users to play a game or collaborate on projects like home renovations. Developers can also add a spectator mode, giving friends and family the best views of AR gameplay from a different iOS device.
Persistent AR will also change the way consumers interact with AR apps by creating opportunities to leave virtual objects in the real world to which users can return. They can start a puzzle on a table and come back to it later in the same state or create an art project over the course of a few weeks without starting over each time.
