castAR (formerly Technical Illusions) was a Palo Alto–based[11] technology startup company founded in March 2013[3] by Jeri Ellsworth and Rick Johnson.

[8][14] In August 2015, Playground Global funded $15 million into castAR to build its product and create augmented-reality experiences.

[6] In September 2016, they opened castAR Salt Lake City, a new development studio formed from a team hired out of the former Avalanche Software, which worked on the Disney Infinity series.

[10] In October 2016, they announced the acquisition of Eat Sleep Play, the developer best known for Twisted Metal, also in Salt Lake City, UT.

[19][20] After winning Educator's and Editor's Choice ribbons at the 2013 Bay Area Maker Faire,[21] the castAR project was successfully crowdfunded via Kickstarter.