Letter to Wikimedia Foundation:Wikimedia 3D Strategy

Click on the animated 3D Wikipedia 3D logo to open the prototype: mediawiki3d.org

Dear Wikipedians,

“We are still far from having collected the sum of all knowledge. Most of the content we have created is in the form of long-form encyclopedia articles and still images, which leaves out many other types of knowledge.”

The world we live in, from the smallest molecules to the vastness of the solar system and galaxies, is three-dimensional. We perceive the world in 3D, and we are naturally attracted to representations that mirror this perceptual richness.

As humans, our primary source of knowledge is perception and our senses play a fundamental role in how we understand and capture the information around us, shaping our comprehension not just through sight and sound, but also through touch, taste, and smell. The evolution of digital technologies has made it possible to capture, reproduce, copy, or build objects from the external world. Knowledge can be derived from these various types of representations which can take the form of printed text, images, videos, audio, 3D models, structured data, etc.

Digital Media and 3D advancement timeline

3D in Wikipedia

The need for a 3D strategy to integrate three-dimensional content was identified in 2015 and through the Community Wishlist Survey in 2016. Despite these early discussions, Wikipedia and Commons still lack a comprehensive 3D strategy and 3D content remains underdeveloped.

Uploading 3D models to Wikimedia Commons became publicly available on 20 February 2018. This feature was limited to just STL format, used mainly for 3D printing, as this blog post stated:

"The new 3D upload feature will initially only support the .STL file format, the format most commonly used by 3D printers. These 3D files will show a static preview image when viewing, and an interactive viewer will load when that preview image is clicked. In the future, after feedback from our community of volunteer editors, we’ll consider adding support for even more complex file types that support features like textures."

STL was a time-tested and established standard, but presented technical limitations compared to other 3D file formats like glTF that could handle textures, colors, animations, and optimized file size.

Since then, the lack of a 3D strategy and the technical limitations of the STL format hindered the repository's ability to serve as a true home for freely licensed 3D content, which represented a missed opportunity to host digital assets from countless sources, such as individual creators, cultural institutions (GLAM), open-source communities, educational initiatives, and public and private organizations.

At a time when museums, cultural institutions, and heritage organizations with openly licensed content are eager to share their extensive digital collections, this lack of better 3D support in Commons is a significant barrier.

3D usage inside Wikipedia and Commons never took off. At the time of writing, Wikimedia Commons has 115 million files, of which just 10,261 (0.00831%) are 3D models.

Meanwhile, commercial 3D marketplaces that emerged in the 2010s capitalized on this opportunity, successfully growing their content libraries and attracting millions of users.

Registered Users over Time

Number of 3D assets by platform

Creators and users aged 18–34 — a demographic underrepresented in Wikipedia’s editor base but dominant in 3D platforms — form a significant audience for 3D content.

Platform usage by age group

Examples of suboptimal workarounds

Community members have used animated GIFs and other limited formats to convey 3D processes or textured objects (for example: Heart 3D model GIF, Clavicle GIF, Sneakers GIF).

Heart beating animation

Computer generated imagery showing clavicle in 3d

Asics nimbus

The urgent need for a free licensed 3D platform

In 2014, Sketchfab introduced Creative Commons licensing options for 3D content, and in 2020 launched a public-domain dedication program for 3D cultural heritage. This collaboration started with 27 cultural organisations from 13 different countries and allowed them to implement open access policies by sharing their 3D data under CC0 licenses and enabled everyone to download and reuse this content. During almost a decade, Sketchfab has been a widely used platform for hosting and sharing 3D cultural heritage content.

The 3D market has been consolidating since 2021. Turbosquid was acquired by Shutterstock, and Epic Games Inc. acquired Sketchfab, which began migrating its assets around 2024, before announcing its own 3D marketplace, Fab.com. This decision by Epic Games Inc. sent ripples through the community, and the transition raised concerns within the cultural heritage community about the potential loss of years of work and thousands of 3D models, highlighting the risks of relying on commercial solutions for preservation and dissemination.

The resulting uncertainty has led to public concern and a collective call for platforms that safeguard open access.

A public petition demanding Sketchfab's continuity and independence garnered widespread support , and the community has been closely following the process reflecting a growing fear: without a robust, open repository for 3D content, humanity risks losing access to critical digital heritage.

Community momentum

Although progress on improving 3D support has largely stalled since the announcement of STL support in 2018, the community has continued discussing and giving feedback. In the last 2-3 years, there has been a growing interest and a community drive to carry out this work.

• Growing advocacy: a dedicated 3D Wikipedia Community Group and related efforts (community meetings, Wikimania sessions, Telegram groups) have formed and included contributors with expertise from the Khronos Group (creators of glTF), IIIF, Sketchfab, cultural institutions and others.
• Technical progress: a functional prototype for glTF support has been developed by volunteers and WMF staff and and over **100,000** freely licensed 3D models, downloaded from Sketchfab, are ready to be incorporated into Commons. A curated list of sources for freely licensed 3D assets, including public institutions, open-source communities, private organizations, etc. is being developed. In August 2025, a fully functional prototype was released: mediawiki3d.org. Not only can textured and animated 3D images be viewed there, but they are also directly integrated into selected Wikimedia articles.

• Strategic alignment: The 2024 Community Wishlist’s top-ranked proposal focuses on improving 3D support, reflecting strong volunteer consensus.

Community demands

The letter sets out several concrete requests:

1. Strategic prioritization of 3D: Incorporate 3D into the upcoming annual planning and 2026–2030 strategy cycle, securing the necessary resources to make Wikipedia truly 3D.

1. Establish a 3D working group: a group that draws on previous efforts and expertise to design, plan and implement a 3D strategy. The Product and Technology Advisory Council is suggested as a useful organizational instrument.

1. Enhanced 3D user experience:

Improve the 3D media experience when uploading, viewing, downloading, and sharing 3D models.

• Viewer: A state-of-the-art 3D viewer that supports basic functionality and advanced features.

• Renderer: p An updated and efficient 3D image renderer to generate thumbnails of the 3D assets.

• Formats: Wider compatibility with 3D standards and modern file formats, including glTF, that enable textures, materials, and animations.

1. Stakeholders and outreach: promote participation by GLAM institutions, educational and cultural initiatives, open-source 3D creators and other partners (examples: GLAM-Wiki, Wiki Loves Monuments, Europeana Pro, Europa Nostra).

Wikipedia’s opportunity: a call to lead

As Wikipedia approaches its 25th anniversary in 2026, the Wikimedia Foundation has described this milestone as a generational moment for reflection and renewal. The 2025–2026 Annual Plan emphasizes the importance of adapting to a rapidly changing internet, shaped by artificial intelligence, immersive media, and evolving patterns of participation. In this context, strengthening support for 3D content aligns directly with the Foundation’s stated priorities.

It also highlights the need to “shape a changing internet” by bringing encyclopedic knowledge into formats that meet audiences where they are. Younger generations are increasingly active in gaming, social platforms, and 3D creative spaces, yet they remain underrepresented in the Wikipedia editor community. By integrating 3D into the Wikimedia ecosystem, the movement can open new entry points for contribution, attract younger demographics, and expand participation in line with the goal of fueling volunteer growth.

Nearly half of the Foundation’s annual budget is dedicated to technology and infrastructure, with explicit commitments to experiment with new formats and improve user experiences. A modern, standards-based 3D framework fits within this mandate, just as previous investments expanded support for video, audio, and data visualization.

The Annual Plan also reinforces knowledge equity and cultural preservation as strategic imperatives. Many institutions worldwide — museums, archives, universities, and open-source communities — are producing open 3D assets. Wikipedia is uniquely positioned to provide a stable, nonprofit platform to host this content, ensuring long-term accessibility and aligning with the mission to safeguard free knowledge for generations to come.

Finally, the Foundation is piloting new models of collaborative governance, such as the Product and Technology Advisory Council. A 3D working group, modeled on these initiatives, could provide the structure needed to coordinate community expertise, institutional partnerships, and Foundation resources.

By integrating 3D into its strategic vision, Wikipedia can not only respond to emerging global trends but also extend its leadership role as the essential infrastructure of free knowledge in a changing digital landscape.

Date published: August 26, 2025

3D models examples

3D International Space Station	3D Animated tectonic plates collide loop	Triceratops
3D Ford Model T	3D Red Fox Cranium	3D Plateau de Giza

Signature section

• Who should sign: Anyone who agrees with this letter, as an individual or on behalf of an affiliate group.

• Format: Affiliate name if signing on behalf of an affiliate, Name (username), affiliation or project

• Examples:

Wikimedia Antarctica - Peng Wynn (User:Penguin), chair of Wikimedia Antarctica

I.M. Wikidatan (User:data), founder of Usergroup SPARQL, Wikidata editor

User:pagination, es.wikibooks editor

---

Add your signature

Wikimedia community affiliates

1. UG Wiki Example - John Doe (User:JohnDoe)
2. UG Wiki Example - John Doe (User:JohnDoe)
3. UG Wiki Example - John Doe (User:JohnDoe)
4. UG Wiki Example - John Doe (User:JohnDoe)

Wikimedia community - not affiliated organizations

1. Wikipedia Community Example Association --   ManosHacker ^talk 14:59, 29 June 2020 (UTC) (chair)

Wikimedia community members

1. John Doe (talk), Example Wikipedia editor 17:44, 23 June 2020 (UTC)

Sources

Graphic 1 Registered users over time.

Year	Sketchfab Users	CGTrader Users	Cult3D Users	Sketchfab Citations	CGTrader Citations	Cult3D Citations
2013	20,000			Source
2014
2015
2016	500,000			Source
2017
2018	1,000,000			Source
2019		3,000,000			Source
2020	3,000,000		1,000,000	Source		Source
2021	5,000,000			Source
2022	10,000,000	5,000,000	5,360,000	Source	Source	Source
2023			73,000,000			Source
2024
2025	15,000,000	11,600,000	12,300,000	Source	Source	Source

Graphic 2. Number of 3D assets by platform

Name	Assets	Source
Wikipedia (Commons 3D models)	10,261	Source
Sketchfab	6,000,000	Source
CGTrader	2,480,000	Source
Turbosquid	1,460,000	Source
Cults3D	2,530,000	Source
Fab.com	218,000	Source

Graphic 3: Platform usage by age group

Name	Users	% 18-24	% 25-34	% 35-44	% 45-54	% 55-64	% 65 or over
Wikipedia	11.9M	10	11	11	14	21	24
Sketchfab	15 M	42.32	30.98	13.61	6.86	3.7	2.53
CGTrader	11 M	31.43	35.78	15.76	8.73	4.95	3.34
Turbosquid	2.5 M	29.82	34.07	16.32	9.85	5.96	3.97
ArtStation Marketplace	3.4M	28.15	33.42	17.25	10.18	6.73	4.27
Cults3D	8 M	25.88	39.01	15.98	9.82	5.5	3.82

Sources

Source Wikipedia Age Demographics

3D Marketplaces Age Demographics

Platform users by age group distribution