Meow Wolf, known for its story worlds and immersive multimedia art, has partnered with Niantic Spatial to explore multimedia art with augmented reality.
They are working on a proof of concept to bring those worlds beyond the walls of physical exhibitions and into the world of AR.
Niantic Spatial is a geospatial AI company transforming how people and machines understand and interact with the physical world. Together, the two companies are exploring how location-based AR—powered by Niantic’s Visual Positioning System (VPS)—could unlock new ways for audiences to engage with Meow Wolf’s Universe in everyday environments.
Niantic Spatial is based on tech built for games like Ingress and Pokemon Go, but Niantic Spatial sold off its games like Pokemon Go to Scopely for $3.5 billion while keeping Ingress and its geospatial technology. The deal recently closed.
The Niantic Spatial partnership launches with a closed beta activation later this year at Meow Wolf’s Convergence Station in Denver. This initial phase will test ways to connect real-world discovery with in-exhibition storytelling. If successful, the collaboration could evolve into a broader multiplayer platform that invites users to explore art, uncover storylines, solve spatial challenges, and contribute to a shared universe beyond traditional exhibition walls.
“This partnership with Niantic Spatial can open portals to an entirely new layer of imagination,” said Vince Kadlubek, Meow Wolf chief vision officer, in a statement. “The world becomes a canvas for creative expression—a scavenger hunt for physical and digital art.”
“Meow Wolf’s narrative universe is unlike anything else—layered, nonlinear, and emotionally resonant,” said Thomas Gewecke, COO and president at Niantic Spatial, in a statement. “It’s a perfect match for geospatial AR, where your surroundings become part of the story.”
While still in development, the goal is to prototype an experience where participants can engage with Meow Wolf content across city streets, parks, and public spaces—unlocking portals, discovering monumental art, and diving into layers of hidden lore. Inside Meow Wolf exhibitions, those same interactions could carry over, offering deeper story progression and access to exclusive content.
Possible features under exploration include:
AR Portals Anywhere – Enter the Meow Wolf Universe from sidewalks, parks, or neighborhoods and reveal a layer of digital art experiences around every corner.
Quests & Show Moments – Complete scavenger hunts, solve puzzles, and build status to unlock exclusive in-exhibition content and experiences.
Community Worldbuilding – Co-create the Meow Wolf Universe by contributing art, characters, storylines, and quests for others to discover.
The collaboration will be officially unveiled during Niantic Spatial Chief Technology Officer Brian McClendon’s keynote at Augmented World Expo (AWE) on June 11. Following the keynote, attendees can stop by the Niantic Spatial lounge for an early look at what’s in development.
Meow Wolf creates extraordinary, mind-bending experiences that transport millions of adventurers of all ages into breathtaking realms of imagination and wonder. Meow Wolf is committed to engaging curious seekers through the magic of discovery and play. It collaborates with hundreds of visionary artists who infuse creativity into every Meow Wolf experience.
The journey began with the THEA Award-winning House Of Eternal Return in Santa Fe (2016), a mystery house with hidden passages and mesmerizing art exhibits. In Las Vegas, Omega Mart (2021) presented a surreal grocery store experience. Denver’s Convergence Station (2021) appeared as a maximalist architectural marvel linking four alien worlds. Meow Wolf unveiled Webby Award-winning The Real Unreal (2023) in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Meow Wolf’s fifth and newest location Radio Tave, a community radio station that spans dimensions, opened on Halloween of 2024 in Houston.
Meow Wolf’s next exhibition opens in Los Angeles in 2026 followed by its seventh location in New York City. As a certified B-Corporation, Meow Wolf leads in themed entertainment, innovating and celebrating human imagination. All are invited to join a journey that defies convention, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy.
The post Meow Wolf and Niantic Spatial explore expansion of multimedia art with AR appeared first on Venture Beat.
