- Lens Studio AI turns AR creation into a conversational process, generating full Lenses from simple prompts and natural language.
- The new Blocks Framework enables modular AR building and asset sharing across the developer community.
- Lens Games expand with a Chat-integrated Games Drawer, Bitmoji tools, and live multiplayer matchmaking coming in 2026.
- Commerce Kit introduces in-Lens payments, allowing creators to sell digital goods and premium AR features for the first time.
- Spectacles OS 2.0 debuts with WebXR support, Travel Mode, and EyeConnect, preparing for a 2026 public launch.
- Snap’s new Snap Cloud, built with Supabase, provides backend infrastructure for real-time, privacy-safe AR experiences.
The tenth annual event introduces AI-led creation tools, in-Lens payments, and next-gen Specs designed for real-time, shared AR.
At the tenth annual Lens Fest, Snap positioned 2025 as a defining year for its augmented reality ecosystem. Over a decade since the first Lens launched, the company has evolved from novelty filters into a full-stack AR platform with more than 400,000 developers and 4 million community-created Lenses.
CEO Evan Spiegel described the milestone as “the beginning of the next decade of AR,” one centered on AI, creator monetization, and scalable infrastructure that bridges mobile, web, and Spectacles.
The updates introduced at Lens Fest 2025 span every layer of the Snap ecosystem — from Lens Studio and Spectacles OS 2.0 to Snap Cloud, a new developer backend designed to support global-scale AR experiences.
Lens Studio AI: AR Creation by Conversation
Snap’s most transformative announcement was Lens Studio AI, a conversational assistant that allows developers to build AR experiences by simply describing them.
“Just describe what you want, and Lens Studio AI helps you bring it to life,” Snap explained during the keynote. The system can write Lens code, debug scripts, generate assets, and publish Lenses directly — drastically lowering the barrier to entry for new creators.
Whether a creator wants a 3D environment, an interactive Bitmoji animation, or a face-tracking effect, Lens Studio AI uses natural language inputs to assemble the components automatically. It also integrates seamlessly with Snap’s new Blocks Framework, turning Lens creation into a collaborative and modular process.
Blocks Framework: Modular AR for a Global Developer Network
The Blocks Framework represents Snap’s next leap in AR scalability. Each Block functions as a reusable, AR-ready module — such as a physics system, lighting script, or 3D texture — that can be mixed and matched to build complex Lenses in minutes.
Creators can share, publish, or sell their custom Blocks, creating a new layer of collaboration within the developer ecosystem.
This modular approach extends to Lens Studio Mobile & Web, which now supports AI-powered remixing — allowing developers to edit, iterate, or generate new Lenses entirely from their phones or browsers.
Hyperreal AR with StyleGen, FaceGen, and AI Clips
Snap is also raising the realism of its AR visuals through major upgrades in Lens Studio’s graphics pipeline:
- Realistic StyleGen delivers true-to-life textures, lighting, and perspective.
- Enhanced FaceGen improves facial geometry, hair rendering, and emotional accuracy.
- Selfie Attachments automate context-aware 3D asset placement.
- AI Clips (coming soon) will let creators transform still images into shareable, animated video Lenses using Snap’s new generative video model.
These updates mark Snap’s most significant push toward cinematic-grade AR fidelity, narrowing the gap between real-world visuals and AI-assisted simulations.
Social Gaming Comes to Chat
Gaming continues to be a cornerstone of Snap’s engagement strategy. More than 175 million users now play Lens Games monthly, a 130% increase from last year.
Snap’s new Games Chat Drawer integrates AR games directly into the messaging experience, making it easier for friends to play together in real time. Developers gain access to new templates and controllers, including Bitmoji integration, camera presets, and custom gesture inputs like “blink to jump.”
The company confirmed that live multiplayer matchmaking will launch in 2026 — a key step toward persistent, real-time gaming within Snapchat’s social layer.
New Monetization: Lens+ Payouts and In-Lens Commerce
Snap is expanding its monetization options with Lens+ Payouts, rewarding creators based on engagement from Lens+ and Snapchat Platinum subscribers.
More significantly, Snap announced Commerce Kit, a toolset that allows select developers to accept payments directly inside AR Lenses. Whether creators offer digital collectibles or unlockable AR effects, Commerce Kit introduces a frictionless pathway for in-Lens purchases — a first in the AR space.
Snap’s head of partnerships noted that the company views this as “the foundation of an AR economy,” giving creators both income and ownership opportunities inside their experiences.
Spectacles OS 2.0: Built for the Real World
Ahead of the 2026 public release, Snap previewed Spectacles OS 2.0, featuring a new interface, WebXR support, and faster rendering performance.
Two standout features — Travel Mode and EyeConnect — showcase Snap’s ambition to make AR wearable, interactive, and social. Travel Mode enables stable AR tracking in motion, while EyeConnect allows users to instantly sync shared Lenses by simply looking at one another.
All existing Spectacles-compatible Lenses will work seamlessly on the upcoming model, and Snap introduced Commerce Kit integration for Spectacles, enabling payments and premium content directly through AR glasses.
Snap Cloud: Infrastructure for a Scalable AR Future
To support this expanding ecosystem, Snap launched Snap Cloud, a developer backend built with Supabase. The system offers secure storage, APIs, edge computing, and real-time processing, giving creators the ability to host and scale complex AR experiences — from live games to commerce-enabled lenses.
Snap Cloud’s privacy-first design ensures compliance with emerging data laws while maintaining performance for high-traffic, global experiences.
Snap’s Next Decade of AR Ambition
With Lens Studio AI, Spectacles OS 2.0, and real-time AR commerce, Snapchat’s Lens Fest 2025 positions the platform at the center of the next wave of consumer augmented reality.
The company’s vision extends beyond filters — it’s building an AI-powered AR ecosystem spanning tools, infrastructure, and hardware. As Snap moves toward the 2026 public release of Spectacles, one message is clear: the next decade of AR won’t just be about what users see — it will be about what they can build, sell, and share in real time.
