A repository of 3D objects for use in AR and VR experiences, Google Poly is the latest Google offering to fall victim to the company’s habit of phasing out products and services regardless of popularity.
Competitive 3D content marketplace Sketchfab sees an opportunity and has swooped in to provide Poly users with a lifeline during this difficult time.
On Tuesday, Sketchfab announced Poly to Sketchfab, a web-based tool built in collaboration with the Google Poly team that allows users to transfer their Poly 3D files to Sketchfab.
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After linking their Poly and Sketchfab accounts to the tool, migrators will be presented with a list of 3D files for transfer, with only Tilt Brush and Tour Creator 360 degree files not eligible. After selecting their files, they can complete the process by uploading their assets to Sketchfab.
Speaking of Tilt Brush, another abandoned Google product, users can export their creations to Sketchfab within Tilt Brush itself.
In addition, Sketchfab has a solution for developers who have integrated Poly into their apps as an asset library. The download API offers similar functionality. The Download API tool gives users over 500,000 free 3D models licensed under Creative Commons.
“We’ve worked for the past nine years to build the best place to publish, share, embed and host 3D content,” said Alban Denoyel, Sketchfab co-founder and CEO, in a Twitter thread following Google’s original announcement. Poly’s End of Life. “We support unlimited uploads for free and anything you share will be ready for VR / AR. We don’t [rely] on advertising, and just gotten profitable, so we’re here to stay. “
However, Poly’s demise, scheduled for June 30, 2021 with the upload of 3D models disabled on April 30, should not be taken as a sign of Google’s muffled enthusiasm for AR technology. The company continues to iterate on its ARCore mobile app toolkit, boasting two of the more useful AR features, with Live View for Google Maps and View in 3D functionality in Google Search, currently available for mobile devices.
