360-degree cameras have a new superpower

The Verge / 4/25/2026

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Key Points

  • Insta360 has partnered with the UK startup Splatica to help creators create walk-around, game-like 3D reconstructions without waiting for third-party filming.
  • The approach leverages Gaussian splatting, enabling photorealistic 3D “splats” using a regular consumer 360-degree camera.
  • Splatica’s subscription service is positioned as the key that streamlines the workflow, handling much of the processing needed to turn splats into usable 3D content.
  • The article frames this as bringing previously futuristic real-world digital re-creation capabilities into a more accessible, creator-friendly form today.
The Insta360 X5 360-degree black stick camera sitting in a bed of flowers and grass.

Imagine Google Street View, except you can walk around like it's a video game. Now imagine you don't need to wait for Google to come film because it's completely DIY. Insta360, the leading maker of 360-degree cameras, is now partnered with a 12-person UK startup called Splatica to help creators do just that.

Last January, we wrote about Gaussian splatting, the tech that promises to someday let anyone digitally re-create chunks of the real world in photorealistic 3D. But Splatica is making it surprisingly easy to harness splats today - with nothing more than an off-the-shelf consumer 360-degree camera and a subscription service that handles …

Read the full story at The Verge.