We’re excited to introduce an all-new way for developers on our Pro Tier to build location-based experiences with Private VPS, now available in Public Beta.

Niantic Visual Positioning System (VPS) for Web is a first-of-its-kind browser based technology that connects the real world with the digital one by anchoring WebAR content to locations with centimeter-level accuracy. VPS unlocks location-based augmented experiences that feel more unique, engaging, and that encourage users to explore the world around them. Today, there are over 400,000 VPS-activated locations available around the globe with thousands more added each day.

Since we launched VPS for Web we’ve seen amazing experiences like Orb Amsterdam’s Fantastic Palastics or Unbound’s Coca-Cola Halloween Collection. However, some developers have experiences they want to build at locations that cannot be tied to our public-facing Niantic Map. This has required them to ask for one-off private VPS locations that they can scan, upload, and manage on their own. In the past, we’ve made this possible with one-off exceptions or support requests, but we know developers need a more scalable way to build for these locations.

Today, we’re excited to announce that this is now possible with Private VPS. Private VPS, now in Public Beta, has the same functionality as our existing VPS service, but allows developers to create private, access-controlled locations that are only visible to your workspace. Whether you’re creating AR experiences tied to seasonal events like a holiday ice rink, event spaces, ticketed areas, or locations not generally accessible to the public, Private VPS offers the flexibility you need.

Private VPS is now self-serve, allowing you to quickly add and build for locations that matter most to you, with no approval process. Custom and Pro Tier developers can access Private VPS today by creating a project with the Cloud Editor, navigating to the geospatial browser and following the prompts for adding a private location. For more details, view our documentation.

At Niantic, we’re committed to giving developers the tools they need to build incredible, real-world AR experiences. We can’t wait to see what you create!