Meow Wolf and Niantic Spatial Announce Plans to Explore an Expansion of the Meow Wolf Universe

June 11, 2025

First-of-its-kind collaboration between two immersive pioneers, blending the real and surreal with augmented reality

Long Beach, California - 11th June 2025 - Meow Wolf, known for their monumental story worlds and immersive multi-media art, has partnered with Niantic Spatial to bring those worlds beyond the walls of physical exhibitions and into the world of augmented reality. Niantic Spatial is a geospatial AI company transforming how people and machines understand and interact with the physical world. Together, the two companies are launching a new initiative that will open portals into The Meow Wolf Universe anywhere in the world using location-based AR powered by Niantic’s Visual Positioning System (VPS) technology.

The partnership launches with a closed beta activation at Meow Wolf’s Convergence Station in Denver later this year. This initial phase will test ways to connect real-world discovery with in-exhibition storytelling. If successful, the collaboration could evolve into a global, multiplayer AR experience that will invite users to discover mindbending art, uncover storylines, solve spatial challenges, and participate in collaborative universe-building at a massive scale.

“This partnership with Niantic Spatial will open portals to an entirely new layer of imagination.” said Vince Kadlubek, Meow Wolf Co-Founder and Chief Vision Officer. “The world will become a canvas for creative expressions; 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, President & Chief Operating Officer at Niantic Spatial. “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 surreal 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 between Niantic Spatial and Meow Wolf was officially unveiled during CTO Brian McClendon’s keynote at AWE this morning. Following the announcement, attendees can head to the Niantic Spatial lounge to learn more about the partnership, where McClendon, Meow Wolf Co-Founder Vince Kadlubek, and Hugh Hayden, Head of Go-to-Market at Niantic Spatial, are available for interviews and behind-the-scenes insights.

About Meow Wolf

Meow Wolf is much more than your typical arts and entertainment company; they’re the creators of extraordinary, mind-bending experiences that transport millions of adventurers of all ages into breathtaking realms of imagination and wonder. As the proud recipients of numerous accolades, including Time Out's #1 Immersive Experience in the US (2023), Fast Company's World's Most Innovative Companies (2024, 2022 and 2020), and USA Today's Top 10 Best Immersive Art Experiences (2022), Meow Wolf is committed to engaging curious seekers through the magic of discovery and play. They are distinct in their collaboration 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.

About Niantic Spatial

Niantic Spatial is a pioneer in geospatial AI, building technology that enables both people and machines to perceive and understand physical spaces in entirely new ways. Our core technology is built on a third-generation digital map, and the Visual Positioning System delivers centimeter-level precision in real-world localization. We are developing a Large Geospatial Model to deliver a semantically rich, spatially grounded understanding of real-world locations.