Google has invested $1 million in Rooms, a 3D design app developed by ex-Google employees, after users built more than one million virtual spaces on the platform. The app, launched in beta in 2023, enables creators to build interactive 3D rooms and mini-games using a library of over 10,000 customizable items, with additional support for Lua programming.
This funding comes as part of a broader partnership granting Rooms early access to Google’s Gemini AI, which is poised to enhance the platform’s creative capabilities. The app, designed by former Googlers Jason Toff, Bruno Oliveira, and Nick Kruge, merges creativity with coding education. It also offers a TikTok-style vertical feed for browsing user-generated spaces, blending functionality with a social media-like experience.
Rooms has gained popularity for allowing creators to express themselves through digital art, with their creations being easily remixable by other users. While early adopters favored simple designs and mini-games, recent trends show creators developing expansive spaces with animation and storytelling elements. For instance, a user named eodqueen evolved from designing basic rooms to crafting intricate spaces with interactivity and animations.
In late November 2024, Rooms introduced version 3.0, adding an Actions editor that enables users to animate their creations without coding. The app also plans to expand storytelling features using Gemini AI. With Gemini 2.0 Flash integration, creators will soon add character narration and speech, customizing tones like “angry,” “calm,” or “excited,” to enrich storytelling.
Things, Inc., the company behind Rooms, revealed that its inventory of digital items grew from 7,500 to over 10,000 in 2024. However, it has not disclosed recent user statistics, though the app had reached a quarter-million registered users last year.
The $1 million funding, structured as a SAFE, gives Google the option to participate in Rooms’ upcoming Series A round. Previously, Rooms secured $10 million in seed funding from notable investors, including Andreessen Horowitz, Instagram co-founder Mike Krieger, and Adobe’s Scott Belsky. Despite this momentum, monetization plans for the app remain undeveloped.
Available on iOS and the web, Rooms continues to attract creators seeking a platform for innovative expression, now bolstered by Google’s strategic backing and AI integration.
Featured image courtesy of Rooms.com
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