Snap Inc. has announced several new initiatives and updates for its global developer community as it marks the tenth anniversary of Lenses. The company is preparing to publicly launch its Specs device in 2026 and is focusing on enhancing tools and opportunities for developers building augmented reality (AR) experiences.
Over the past decade, more than 400,000 developers have created over 4 million Lenses, making Snapchat one of the largest platforms for creative AR expression. Snap stated, “Our goal is to be the most developer friendly platform in the world, and our commitment has never been stronger. Today we’re excited to announce major updates focused on three core areas: making Snap the best place to build, helping creators turn passion into business results, and giving developers world-class tools to push AR forward.”
The company reported that more than 175 million people play Lens Games on Snapchat each month, with sharing activity increasing by 130% since last year. Snap is introducing a Games Chat Drawer to integrate Lens Games directly into Chat, aiming to make games more accessible where friends interact.
Lens Studio, Snap’s AR creation platform, is receiving updates to offer more expressive capabilities for creators. The updates are designed to enable higher-fidelity, personalized, and engaging Lenses.
Snap is also expanding monetization options. “After a successful pilot, we’re expanding Lens Creator Rewards with Lens+ Payouts, allowing creators to make money based on engagement from Lens+ and Snapchat Platinum subscribers. Whether you create games, AI experiences, or effects, you can now build a portfolio of monetized Lenses,” Snap said.
Camera Kit, which brings Snap’s AR technology to other apps, websites, and AR mirrors, reached more than 68 million monthly active users in the third quarter of this year. The company has responded to developer feedback by removing mandatory branding from Camera Kit, giving developers more flexibility in their projects.
Snap announced Lens Studio AI, a tool that allows users to build Lenses using conversational prompts. The tool can write code, guide development, generate full Lenses, debug, and suggest assets, aiming to speed up the creation process for both new and experienced users.
Additionally, Snap introduced Blocks, a new modular framework for building AR components that can be shared or kept private within Lens Studio AI.
The fifth-generation Spectacles device, which features real-time AI-powered AR experiences, will see the launch of Snap OS 2.0, promising improved performance, a native browser with WebXR support, and new kits for interface design. New features such as Travel Mode and EyeConnect are designed to improve usability and enable shared AR experiences.
Monetization is also being introduced to Spectacles with Commerce Kit, allowing select creators to accept payments directly within Lenses.
Several new partner experiences are now available on Spectacles, including Star Wars: Holocron Histories from Industrial Light & Magic, Synth Riders, and Paramount’s Avatar: The Last Airbender. Upcoming Lens experiences from Figma, Tripadvisor, and Mastercard research are expected soon.
To support these developments, Snap has launched Snap Cloud in partnership with Supabase, providing developers with APIs, edge functions, secure storage, and real-time capabilities to support richer AR projects.
“Everything you’re building today for the current version of Spectacles will be compatible with the new Specs, ensuring your work is future-proof from day one,” Snap said.
