Games

Unleash Your Creativity With Subway Studio: Subway Surfers Introduces In-Game AR Feature

augmented reality, featured, Games / Ryan Harris / June 29, 2023

SYBO, the game studio responsible for the popular mobile game Subway Surfers, has pushed the boundaries of gaming with its first in-game augmented reality feature known as Subway Studio.

The landmark expansion contributes to the growing appeal of AR gaming. Subway’s AR feature lets players bring the exciting Subway Surfers world into their own lives, giving them a way to use their imagination and creativity.

Subway Studio Subway Surfers AR feature

Subway Studio gives players the ability to connect, share stories, and make their creations using their beloved Subway Surfers characters in their real-life surroundings. “Subway Studio puts the power of creativity and virality in our players’ hands, allowing them to interact, tell stories, and create content with their favorite characters in their homes, backyards, workplaces, you name it,” said Mathias Gredal Nørvig, CEO of SYBO, in a press release shared with ARPost.

Unveiling the Augmented Reality Marvel of Subway Studio

Subway Studio represents a technical marvel, incorporating cutting-edge mobile augmented reality and camera tracking technologies to create a realistic and immersive experience. This advanced feature enables players to interact with Subway Surfers characters in real life, regardless of their device’s AR capabilities.

SYBO’s Technical Director Murari Vasudevan praised the team for their remarkable accomplishment in creating a highly advanced feature that offers endless creative and artistic opportunities. Through the use of innovative technologies, Subway Studio guarantees that players experience an authentic connection with their favorite characters as if they were right there with them in the real world.

“We’re constantly looking to give our players new ways to engage with the game, and this new technology does just that,” Murari said.

Subway Studio launches as part of the Subway Surfers Fantasy Fest update, available until July 16. Players have a selection of 40 existing Subway Surfers characters to interact with. They can create viral content that seamlessly merges with their in-game experiences, amplifying their impact within the gaming community. Additionally, SYBO plans to introduce more characters through future updates, ensuring a continuous stream of fresh content and experiences for players.

Where Buzz and Creativity Converge

Recognizing the incredible creative potential within their community, SYBO took notice of the hashtag #SubwaySurfers on TikTok, which has garnered an astonishing 34 billion views, mainly from user-generated videos.

Subway Surfers AR feature Subway Studio

Motivated by this, SYBO has launched a special TikTok filter that enables players to further engage with the game by interacting with one of the iconic characters, Jake, within the TikTok platform, thus expanding the reach of Subway Surfers AR experience.

Prepare to unlock your creative potential and embark on an exceptional augmented reality journey as Subway Surfers marks its 11th anniversary this year. With this milestone, it is evident that SYBO is committed to upholding its reputation as an innovative force within the gaming industry. Subway Studio exemplifies its commitment to ingenuity and providing creative ways for players to engage with the game.

Dive into a realm where imagination and reality merge, bringing your beloved characters to life in your chosen settings. Subway Surfers has taken the gaming experience to unprecedented levels, and as SYBO continues to push boundaries, the future of mobile gaming holds immense promise.

The Team Behind Subway Surfers and Subway Studio

Based in Copenhagen, SYBO is a prominent game development company renowned for its remarkable accomplishments in bringing Subway Surfers to life. This widely celebrated and immensely popular running game, recognized as the top downloaded game in 2022, has garnered an impressive four billion downloads thus far.

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Croquet for Unity: A New Era for Multiplayer Development With “No Netcode” Solution

AR development, developers, Development, Games, News, unity, VR development, XR experience / Mike M. / March 30, 2023

Croquet, the multiplayer platform for web and gaming, which took home the WebXR Platform of the Year award at this year’s Polys WebXR Awards, recently announced Croquet for Unity.

Croquet for Unity is an innovative JavaScript multiplayer framework for Unity – a platform for creating interactive, real-time 3D content – that simplifies development by eliminating multiplayer code and server setup. It connects developers with the distinct global architecture of the Croquet Multiplayer Network. The framework was demonstrated at GDC last week, while early access beta is arriving in April 2023.

Effortless Networking for Developers

Croquet for Unity alleviates the developers’ need to generate and sustain networking code. By employing Croquet’s Synchronized Computation Architecture, server-side programming and traditional servers become unnecessary.

Users connect through the Croquet Multiplayer Network, which consists of Reflectors—stateless microservers located across four continents—that guarantee smooth and uniform experiences for gamers.

Synchronizing Computation for Flawless Multiplayer

At its essence, Croquet focuses on synchronizing not only the state but also its progression over time. By harmonizing computation, Croquet eliminates the need to transmit the outcomes of intricate computations like physics or AI.

It also eliminates the necessity for particular data structures or sync indicators for designated objects. As a result, crafting multiplayer code becomes akin to creating single-player code, with the full game simulation executing on-device.

Shared Virtual Computers for Perfect Sync

A shared virtual computer runs identically on all clients, providing perfect synchronization and giving each player a unique perspective. Lightweight reflectors can be positioned at the edge of the cloud or in a 5G network’s MEC, offering lower latency than older architectures.

In addition, synchronized calculations performed on each client will replace traditional server computations, resulting in reduced bandwidth and improved latency.

Unprecedented Shared Multiplayer Simulations

Croquet not only facilitates multiplayer development but also enables previously unfeasible shared multiplayer simulations. Examples include real-time interactive physics as a fundamental game feature, fully reproduced non-player character behaviors, and sophisticated player interactions that allow players to interact while the game is live.

Due to bandwidth limits and intrinsic complexity, traditional networks are incapable of supporting these simulations.

“Innately Multiplayer” Games With No Netcode

“Multiplayer games are the most important and fastest-growing part of the gaming market. But building and maintaining multiplayer games is still just too hard,” said David A. Smith, founder and CTO of Croquet, in a press release shared with ARPost. “Croquet takes the netcode out of creating multiplayer games. When we say, ‘innately multiplayer,’ we mean games are multiuser automatically from the first line of code and not as an afterthought writing networking code to make it multiplayer.”

Croquet’s goal is to simplify developing multiplayer games, making it as easy as building single-player games. By removing netcode creation and administration, developers can concentrate on improving player experiences while benefiting from reduced overall creation and distribution costs, a speedier time to market, and enhanced player satisfaction.

Opening Doors for Indie Developers

Croquet for Unity is created for a wide range of gaming developers, but it is highly advantageous for small, independent developers that often find it more difficult to create multiplayer games because of the absence of in-house networking and backend technical background.

Secure Your Spot on the Croquet for Unity Beta Waitlist

Developers can sign up for the Beta Waitlist to access the Croquet for Unity beta, launching in April.The Croquet for Unity Package will be available in the Unity Asset Store upon commercial release for free, requiring a Croquet gaming or enterprise subscription and developer API key for global Croquet Multiplayer Network access.

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GDC 2023 State of the Game Industry Report Includes Insights Into VR and AR

AR development, AR games, developers, featured, Games, gaming, Industry Reports, VR development, VR games / Ryan Harris / January 30, 2023

Games are the largest use case for consumer VR and AR. While VR and AR remain a comparatively small segment of the games industry, the industry is taking notice as VR hardware in particular improves. This presents possibilities for new kinds of games but also promises to breathe new life into established franchises.

The GDC’s State of the Game Industry Report for this year is by no means dedicated to VR and AR. However, it does hold insights into how this segment of the industry is growing and changing. This includes insights into larger emerging technology trends like Web3 and the metaverse.

VR and AR in the Larger Games Industry

This GDC survey, the 11th in an annual series, found that “the metaverse has become more than a buzzword.” That doesn’t mean that VR and AR are now the driving force in the games industry.

In terms of which platforms developers are building for, VR headsets land in 10th place with 12% of respondents. AR landed in 14th place with 4% of respondents. When asked which platforms developers are building their next project for, VR headsets remained in 10th place with 12%, but AR moved up to 11th place with 5%.

GDC State of the Game Industry 2023 - platforms developers are building for — *Source: GDC State of the Game Industry 2023*

PC leads the pack, with the intervening platforms consisting of the usual suspects – legacy gaming platforms and mobile. However, this may be changing in the near future.

When asked which platforms developers are most interested in, 23% of respondents said VR, pushing the platform to 6th place, ahead of Android, Mac, and Xbox One. Similarly, 12% responded with AR, placing it in 11th place ahead of PS4 and web browsers.

GDC State of the Game Industry 2023 - which platform most interests game developers — *Source: GDC State of the Game Industry 2023*

So, while we might not see a boom period for VR and AR games in the immediate future, it’s increasingly on the radar of game developers. This trend looks like it could be setting up growth in this aspect of the industry within the next few years.

That said, last year’s big metaverse hype may have led to increased expectations for the cycle we’re in now. Last year, 42% of respondents said that they were actively involved in VR and AR game development. Now that number is at 38%, closer to where it was in 2021.

Platform Wars Within VR

So, of the developers that are working in VR and AR gaming, what platforms are they working on?

When asked which platform their next game will release on, 36% responded with Quest meaning Quest 2. An additional 10% responded with “Project Cambria” – the Quest Pro which had not yet been released at the time of the survey. A further 10% responded with Rift, Meta’s now discontinued line of tethered PC VR headsets.

GDC State of the Game Industry 2023 - VR and AR platforms developers are building games for — *Source: GDC State of the Game Industry 2023*

It is worth noting that the percentage of respondents working with Quest has gone up almost 10% since last year. That in itself is not necessarily surprising if not for the fact that the overall number of VR and AR game developers has gone down.

Interestingly, the runner-up is the as-yet-unreleased PlayStation VR 2 with 18%, followed by the HTC VIVE ecosystem at 15%. A further 12% responded with Apple’s ARKit, and another 9% responded with Android’s ARCore. There was also a potentially unexpected write-in entry.

“A handful of respondents shared that they were developing games for Pico, a platform that was not on the survey list,” the report offers. In some geographical markets, the Pico 4, which was announced shortly before the Quest Pro, is a significant potential Quest Pro competitor. However, Pico Interactive does not currently offer consumer support in the US.

Gaming in the Metaverse?

“The concept of the metaverse continues to pick up steam in the game industry, as new and existing companies alike move to secure funding, spin up projects, and develop new technology,” reads the survey. However, like VR and AR gaming, this news comes with a grain of salt and some more sober attitudes since last year.

Nearly half of the respondents didn’t select any of the survey’s platform options. They instead said that “the metaverse concept will never deliver on its promise.” This occurred last year as well when around a third of respondents said that the metaverse will never materialize.

From a VR and AR perspective, it gets worse. More developers said that Fortnite would become the model metaverse platform than Horizon Worlds. This isn’t bad news because Horizon Worlds is better than Fortnite, it’s bad news because Horizon Worlds is VR and Fortnite isn’t. In fact, many of the more popular “metaverse” contenders are flat platforms.

GDC 2023 State of the Game Industry - Metaverse promise — *Source: GDC State of the Game Industry 2023*

And it gets worse. “Microsoft/Minecraft” came in a distant third place with 7% of respondents choosing them as the model metaverse. This presumably included AltspaceVR. As this article was being written, it was announced that AltspaceVR is coming to an end.

A Note on Blockchain

ARPost is not explicitly interested in blockchain but as a potential pillar of both the metaverse and the future of gaming, it shouldn’t be inappropriate to share some of the survey’s findings in this field. And, if you aren’t explicitly interested in blockchain either, the survey results should please you.

When asked about their interest in blockchain integration in games, 23% of respondents said that they were “very interested” or “somewhat interested”, with 75% saying that they were not interested at all. The remaining 2% are using blockchain in games already, with blockchain being the principal monetization strategy of around 4% of games.

Interest in blockchain is down slightly from last year, but, according to the report, most respondents were against blockchain last year as well and simply haven’t changed their minds.

GDC State of the Game Industry 2023 - blockchain in game industry — *Source: GDC State of the Game Industry 2023*

“Many developers said there could be a valuable place for blockchain technology in video games in the future,” the report explains. “Others said that the risks outweigh the benefits and that existing technologies serve similar purposes that negate the need for blockchain.”

A Maturing Industry

If you thought that the gaming industry was moving a little too fast last year, you were right. Metaverse hype driven by hardware expectations and blockchain buzz may have led to a brief, hard burn in the industry. It now seems that a small correction has taken place but the VR and AR games industry is settling in for longer-term development.

For the full picture of the whole gaming industry, find the complete report here.

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Nvidia is giving up on GameStream to the dismay of Shield TV owners

Games, Highlights, News, NVIDIA, nvidia shield, steam, valve / Ryan Harris / December 18, 2022

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10 Games We Can’t Wait to Play in 2023

Games, gaming, Gaming Culture, Highlights, PC Gaming / Ryan Harris / December 17, 2022

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The Blob Opera returns for holiday season fun, ’90s arcade style

Games, Google, Highlights, News / Ryan Harris / December 14, 2022

The Blob Opera returns for holiday season fun, ’90s arcade style Read More »

How Active Games Can Make You Healthy

featured, Games, Guest Post, health, Mixed Reality, MR games / Blake Jones / November 30, 2022

Video games have been blamed for sedentary lifestyles and social problems since early arcade games hit the streets in the 1970s. Throughout my career, from post-doctoral research to the company boardroom, I have made it my mission to change that perception and truly bring physical activity into the gaming industry.

The recipe is simple: By fully utilizing the capabilities of mixed reality technologies, we can make active, social, and fun gaming experiences that reward exercise. Combining the benefits of an active lifestyle with everything we love about video games, we can finally bury all the negative stereotypes for good.

The Pandemic Glued Us to the Couch

The COVID-19 pandemic was a tough time for many. A study by WHO found that the global prevalence of anxiety and depression increased by 25%. Especially young people found themselves cut off from their social networks. At the same time, interest in gaming skyrocketed.

When we were stuck in our houses, playing video games became one of few ways to spend time with friends and family. Studies undertaken after the pandemic show that people who played augmented reality games like Pokémon Go or Harry Potter: Wizards Unite were less likely to develop anxiety and depression. Another study showed that young people who played online games coped better with anxiety, depression, and stress related to lockdown measures.

Many of our gaming habits have stuck with us after restrictions were lifted. In the US, 56% of male and 47% of female respondents to a recent survey said they play video games as often as they did during the pandemic. Safe to say, gaming is here to stay.

Active Games Make People Active

While games are more popular than ever, we are facing another problem: Sitting down is the new pandemic. As much as 80% of the global underage population does not get enough weekly exercise. The average American sits more than 6.5 hours daily, and it’s even worse in the UK at over 9 hours. Yet we have to acknowledge that going for a run or to the gym is not for everyone. To include more people, we have to rethink what exercise could be.

Gamified exercise is the key. Active games have been around for a long time and are growing in popularity. The first dancing game with a floor pad launched in 1987, and by the late 90s, they were a feature at every arcade. All major consoles have featured active games since Playstation 2’s EyeToy. Yet, these games all share the same issue: they are primarily for one or two players, and the experience relies heavily on factors like additional controllers, having a good TV, or enough space in the living room.

Pokémon Go took on this challenge and made active gaming accessible. Players have to move around to progress and so they had no other choice than to take the dog for a walk or go to the park. Data from 2017 showed the number of active players that walked more than 10,000 steps per day had increased from 15% to 28% since the game launched. Using AR technology and mobile phones, inserting the game directly into the player’s surroundings made the gaming experience feel real.

So how do we build on the success of Pokémon Go? For me, the digitalization of theme parks, arcades, and activity centers, provides a fantastic opportunity to introduce MR active games to larger groups. Using immersive technology, we can create fun and challenging group gaming experiences that could never fit in our living rooms.

Active Games Are Social Arenas

Video games are social, and creating social games is also what MR systems do best. New, immersive, digital attractions are a great social way to inspire competition and get people moving. Friends can work out together, and you are free to move around in the game arena. Competing against real people in a mixed reality space where they can see, hear, touch, and talk to each other while playing takes the gaming experience to the next level.

As a social arena, gearless MR games have an advantage over their equipment-based VR cousins. By removing the need for mobile phones or headwear, we can create games that let you stay connected with your fellow players in the real world. The game truly becomes a challenge you face together. The sense of jeopardy is real, as are the interactions you have with other players.

MR technology also lets us create new, gamified activities for traditional sports venues such as gyms or climbing centers. By boosting the spread of MR gaming experiences, we can introduce healthy activity to more people and promote healthy living. I can think of no better use of technology.

Guest Post

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