The Metaverse Is Coming: Here’s Everything You Need to Know
You’ve probably heard the hype: the metaverse is going to change the way you live.
The metaverse refers to digital realms where people will meet to work, play, and hang out. It is a concept for the next phase in the internet’s growth. Some of those online places will be immersive 3D experiences that will necessitate the use of special eyewear. Others will take place on a computer monitor. The phrase has been developing and rebranding itself, and it may continue to do so.
Hype cycles in technology come and go. It’s possible that the metaverse may die out before it’s ever realized. However, interest in the project is still growing. It’s become a common phrase in gaming, non-traditional retail, and retail.
Microsoft’s projected $69 billion acquisition of ActivisionBlizzard was portrayed as part of a metaverse expansion. Last year, Facebook relaunched as Meta, indicating the social network’s desire to be a forerunner in the new world. Roblox and Minecraft, as well as other world-building games, are all thrown into conversations about what the metaverse is or will be.
In addition to Microsoft and Meta, Qualcomm, Nvidia, Valve, Epic, HTC and Apple are all dreaming up new ways of connecting online. So you’ll be hearing more about the metaverse in the years ahead.
WHAT IS THE METAVERSE?
The metaverse is generally defined as online environments where individuals may interact, work, and play as avatars, and it’s a progression of the internet. Those places are shared and constantly available; unlike a Zoom call, they don’t vanish once you’ve finished using them. Many individuals believe the metaverse already exists in the digital worlds of Roblox, Minecraft, and Fortnite, which allow users to interact in 2D surroundings.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, and other supporters envision a more immersive experience that combines a variety of existing technology, including virtual reality headsets, mobile devices, personal PCs, and cloud-connected servers. These futurists envisage the creation of a 3D virtual environment that may be accessed through the use of a headset or augmented reality glasses. There’s no consensus on whether you’ll need VR or AR to access the metaverse, but they do go hand in hand. That means these headsets will work with whatever is available. Meta, Sony, Apple, and maybe more are anticipated to release new VR and mixed reality headsets this year.
One recurring idea is that the metaverse will be a virtual realm that mirrors our real-life existence. Digital communities, parks, and clubs will emerge, either in a single virtual world or across several. Some individuals believe there is a metaverse that exists alongside the actual world and contains augmented reality overlays. Investors are already splurging on virtual land tracts.
WHAT WILL IT BE LIKE IN THE METAVERSE?
The deluxe Metaverse – the one that requires a headset – is based on the concept of an immersive, 360-degree digital universe. You’ll have your own avatar that you can customize, as well as digital assets with titles that will most likely be stored on a blockchain. Some believe you’ll acquire digital land and construct online homes where you may entertain your pals.
Simpler metaverse experiences, like Roblox or Fortnite, are currently accessible. Those games aren’t as immersive as the metaverse Zuck mentions, but they give you a good idea of what’s coming.
All of the activities we do on the internet already point to how the metaverse may develop. There will be some gaming, Zoom telepresence, VR and AR splashes, and lots of social media. Expect a lot of tries to bring it all together in a way that’s enjoyable or beneficial.
WHAT EQUIPMENTS YOU NEED TO ENTER THE METAVERSE?
That depends on where you want to go. Facebook wants you to buy an Oculus Quest 2 virtual reality headset. Although the device is self-contained and does not require a PC or gaming console to function, it will set you back $300. Other VR headset manufacturers include Valve, HTC, HP, and Sony, all of which operate with PCs or PlayStation 4/5. By the end of the year, expect additional headsets, some of which may link to phones.
AR headsets, which layer digital information on top of the actual environment and are far more expensive, are made by a few other firms, including Microsoft and Magic Leap. Qualcomm and other businesses are working on ways for AR glasses to interact with phones, albeit most of the applications are still experimental or business-oriented. Snap’s prototype AR glasses, or spectacles like the Nreal Light, demonstrate how much work remains to make them a viable buy.
WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF THE METAVERSE?
One of the most outspoken proponents of a united metaverse is Facebook. Due to Facebook’s Diem stablecoin project, this is particularly fascinating for a crypto-powered metaverse. Mark Zuckerberg has stated openly that he intends to build a metaverse initiative to encourage remote employment and provide financial prospects for individuals in impoverished nations. Facebook’s ownership of social media, communication, and cryptocurrency platforms puts them in an excellent position to merge these realms. Microsoft, Apple, and Google are among the other significant IT giants pursuing the establishment of a metaverse.
Further integration between NFT marketplaces and 3D virtual environments appears to be the next stage towards a crypto-powered metaverse. NFT holders can already sell their items on markets such as OpenSea and BakerySwap, but there isn’t currently a widely used 3D platform for this. On a larger scale, blockchain developers may be able to create successful metaverse-like products with a larger organic user base than a huge tech company.
Links and References
https://venturebeat.com/2021/04/01/the-metaverse-needs-responsible-stewardship-not-greedy-predators/
https://www.finextra.com/blogposting/21803/why-can-metaverse-play-a-huge-role-in-the-future
