# 8th Wall > XR development company part of Niantic **Wikidata**: [Q131421314](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q131421314) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/8th-wall ## Summary 8th Wall is a United States-based software company specializing in XR (Extended Reality) development. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Palo Alto, the company operates as a subsidiary of the Niantic Games Team. It provides a platform for creating augmented reality (AR) experiences, serving the broader technology and software industries. ## Key Facts - **Formal Name:** 8th Wall, Inc. - **Classification:** Software company (subclass of business and technology company). - **Industry:** Technology; Software Industry. - **Inception:** 2016. - **Headquarters:** Palo Alto, United States. - **Parent Organization:** Niantic Games Team (Niantic). - **Acquisition Date:** March 2022 (acquired by Niantic). - **Website:** https://www.8thwall.com/ - **Social Media:** Twitter handle: `the8thwall` (joined August 2016); Instagram handle: `8thwall`; YouTube handle: `8thwall`. - **Identifiers:** Google Knowledge Graph ID: `/g/11h1y8fqw0`; Crunchbase Organization ID: `8th-wall`. ## FAQs ### What is 8th Wall? 8th Wall is a software company focused on XR (Extended Reality) development. It is best known for providing tools that allow developers to create augmented reality applications. ### Who owns 8th Wall? The company is a subsidiary of the Niantic Games Team (Niantic). It was acquired by Niantic in March 2022. ### Where is 8th Wall located? The company is headquartered in Palo Alto, United States. ### When was 8th Wall founded? 8th Wall was founded in 2016. ## Why It Matters 8th Wall plays a significant role in the AR software ecosystem by providing the "non-tangible executable components" required to build immersive experiences. As a specialized software company within the technology sector, it bridges the gap between code and consumer application, specifically in the burgeoning field of WebAR. Its acquisition by Niantic, a leader in mobile AR (known for Pokémon Go), underscores its strategic importance in the evolution of the "Real World Metaverse," enabling more accessible and widespread creation of AR content for mobile devices and the web. ## Notable For - **XR Development Focus:** Distinct from general software houses, 8th Wall specializes specifically in tools for Extended Reality (XR) and WebAR. - **Acquisition by Niantic:** The company was notably acquired by Niantic in March 2022 to bolster its AR development platform, highlighting its value in the AR market. - **Silicon Valley Presence:** Headquartered in Palo Alto, a major hub for technology and software innovation. - **WebAR Platform:** Referenced in industry contexts as a "WebAR development platform," distinguishing its technical output from hardware manufacturers. ## Body ### Definition and Classification 8th Wall, Inc. is formally classified as a **software company**. In the context of industry taxonomy, this places it as a subclass of a **business**, a **company**, and a **technology company**. As a software entity, its primary product is non-tangible, focusing on executable components for computers and mobile devices rather than physical hardware. The company operates within the software industry but serves the specific niche of **XR (Extended Reality)** development. ### Corporate History and Ownership The company was founded in **2016**. Its corporate footprint is centered in the United States, with its **headquarters located in Palo Alto**. A defining moment in the company's history occurred in **March 2022**, when it was acquired by **Niantic** (specifically the Niantic Games Team). This acquisition was widely reported in technology news, including outlets such as The Verge and TechCrunch, positioning 8th Wall as a key asset in Niantic's expansion beyond gaming into broader AR tools. ### Digital Presence and Media 8th Wall maintains a robust digital footprint consistent with a modern technology firm. - **Web:** Its official domain is `8thwall.com`, presented in English. - **Social Media:** The company established its Twitter presence (`@the8thwall`) in August 2016, shortly after its inception. It also operates under the handle `8thwall` on Instagram and YouTube. - **Industry Profiles:** The company is tracked on Crunchbase (ID: `8th-wall`) and is recognized in the Google Knowledge Graph (ID: `/g/11h1y8fqw0`). ### Industry Context As a software company, 8th Wall exemplifies the characteristics of its class by producing intellectual property and code. While general software companies may operate in fields as diverse as cloud computing or finance, 8th Wall applies software development principles specifically to the **augmented reality** sector. This involves designing and licensing platforms that allow other creators to build AR experiences, fitting the definition of a software house that facilitates digital transformation and new media interaction. ## References 1. [Source](https://nianticlabs.com/news/welcome-8thwall) 2. [The Verge](https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/10/22971072/niantic-8th-wall-acquisition-largest-ar-augmented-reality-pokemon-go) 3. [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2022/03/10/pokemon-go-creator-niantic-is-acquiring-webar-development-platform-8th-wall/) 4. [Fast Company](https://www.fastcompany.com/90730302/pokemon-go-creator-niantic-acquires-innovative-ar-company-8th-wall) 5. [VentureBeat](https://venturebeat.com/games/apple-vision-pro-receives-niantic-8th-wall-metaversal-deployment-support/)