What is the Metaverse?
Metaverse is the virtual-reality environment in which users live and interact with each other in a 3D space. It’s the next generation of the internet that provides immense experience to users of virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR). Metaverse opens up an alternative three-dimensional environment by eventually merging the physical and digital worlds. Virtual reality headsets, virtual glasses, Oculus VR goggles, and much contribute towards the virtual world. In Metaverse, people will enter into the digital world as a digital avatar where they can attend concerts, socialize with friends, watch movies, work with their colleagues, shop for clothes, and have fun. Today people carry out these exercises through their mobile phones, but Metaverse enables people to experience it live through a virtual environment.
Facebook has rebranded itself as a Meta intending to create a virtual space for its users where they will roam as a 3D avatar achieving all they imagine in a physical world. Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg estimates that the creation of its Metaverse will take five to ten years, other met verses already exist. Some of them have even been around for a long time. While the first version of Metaverse was not based on blockchain technology, many of the more current versions are. Similarly, while the definition of Metaverse has stayed largely unchanged, these virtual worlds have come a long way in integrating NFTs and other elements into the ecosystem over time.
Metaverse examples that already exist
Let’s explore some of the Metaverse examples that already exist and are well-popular:
- IMVU
IMVU is one of the world’s largest 3D social networking sites founded in 2004 where users can connect and chat with people around the globe. The IMVU users are randomly paired with other users via the “talk now” feature. It enables users to share photos of their avatars in various poses and settings (both 2D and 3D). IMVU offers exciting games in which users can “spin a wheel” and win rewards with the Daily Spin function. Prizes can be in the form of app credits or new avatar clothing. From those credits, users can buy new outfits, accessories, hairstyles, avatars, and postures.
- Second life
The name itself suggests that the application provides people with second life means virtual life where they can experience themselves as a 3D avatar. Second life was launched in 2003 by Linden labs with their currency called the Linden dollar. Their users carry out most of the transactions in-game through this currency. A study reported that players amassed $73 million in 2020. Users of this platform can interact with places, objects, socialize, participate in both solo and group activities, construct, create, shop, and exchange virtual goods and services. Second life offers tremendous features and applications to its users including arts, entertainment, education, science, religion, relationships, music streams, and much more. Moreover, users can discover millions of items like virtual fashions, home décor, and more.
- Fortnite and Roblox
Fortnite is a multiplayer online role-playing game that has evolved as a Metaverse. It allows its users to play alone, in a duo, or a squad. Fortnite has hosted a variety of virtual events, including music concerts, movie trailers, and brand events. Over 12 million people watched rapper Travis Scott’s unprecedented virtual concert within the game last year. The figure increased to around 28 million after the top shows that took people to a floating amusement park, virtual underwater, space, etc.
Roblox on the other hand is one of the top-leading Metaverse global platforms that gathers people through play. One of the most trending South Korean Netflix TV series, Squid Game is a unique computer-generated 3D game that allows players to create activities, build homes, and design products to sell them on the marketplace. The hype of this TV series has made it clear that soon people will turn from the digital world to a virtual world.
- Decentraland
Decentraland is one of the most well-known Metaverses. You may buy, trade, and collect NFTs here, as well as construct 3D sceneries, avatars, play games, and attend events—the possibilities are unlimited! To do all of this and more, simply go to the Decentraland website, create an avatar, and then explore the Metaverse at your leisure!
How Facebook can evolve as a Metaverse?
Facebook is one of the most common social media platforms that is now recognized as Meta. It’s announced on October 28, 2021, that Facebook will now rebrand itself as the Metaverse. Facebook is a community that connects people with different platforms such as WhatsApp and Instagram. Virtual reality and augmented reality are revolutionizing the way people live their lives. As of now, people can connect with VR via headsets and goggles for playing video games, watching movies, and chatting. The next generation Metaverse will be even more immersive and embodied internet where users will find there self’s living in the digital 3D world.
Facebook had invested heavily in virtual reality to make it a completely virtual world. Currently, Facebook is offering advertisement, gaming, and ecommerce platform to its users but it’s not a virtual environment. Users can market their business through Facebook advertisement campaigns, they can collaborate and communicate with each other by means of video calls, chats, and messages. People can play games but cannot experience them in real-life, to make it possible Facebook is working to create a virtual space where interaction is not physical but virtual. Ecommerce Facebook shops allow people to discover their brand, find new customers online, sell their products, and much more. It offers a joyful online shopping experience to its users. Metaverse will enhance the customer shopping experience by enabling them to try new products on their self.
CONCLUSION
Metaverse is a vast field that will bring a drastic change in the digital world. Many big companies like Microsoft, Google, and Apple are progressed as Metaverse companies. Facebook is now building a platform that will rely completely on the Metaverse, making it a fully computer-generated 3D world. Although the Facebook owner has not stated how much or if it will use blockchain technology in its Metaverse, predictions abound that it will. It may either follow in the footsteps of blockchain-based systems like Decentraland or go completely decentralized. Only time will tell how the corporation constructs, or rather redefines, the Metaverse.
