From Virtual to Real: Understanding the Sociological Significance of Metaverses
Why Metaverses are the Future from a Sociological POV and Projects Building to Get Us There
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Almost two years have elapsed since Mark Zuckerberg made headlines by transforming Facebook into Meta, triggering an international, albeit short-lived frenzy over metaverses.
You've likely seen corporate giants diving into the metaverse fray and read forecasts predicting its seismic impact, estimated in hundreds of billions of dollars across all industries. Yet, for many, the concept remains elusive, the touted impacts a distant buzz. Is this just a massive corporate hype or a genuine turning point in our digital evolution?
I genuinely believe metaverses are not only imminent but are set to redefine our future profoundly. By the end of this article, I hope to have convinced you of the same.
This piece shall explain:
The essence of metaverses
2 societal phenomena that make metaverses necessary
3 foundational principles for an effective metaverse
Innovative projects and efforts spearheading the adoption and evolution of metaverses
Let’s dive in!
What is the Metaverse
If you didn’t watch “Ready Player One”, you likely don’t have a sense of what the metaverse is. There are many definitions of the metaverse out there, but they are either too vague or too limiting.
ADL defines the metaverse as “...the future version of the Internet, blending the frontiers between reality and virtuality, at the convergence of immersive spaces, collaboration platforms, social experiences, and leveraging the creator economy”
My personal take expands on it:
The future version of the internet: The metaverse represents the evolution of the internet, a dynamic digital universe that we can exist within, rather than merely interact with. Instead of information being presented in a static, two-dimensional format as we have on current web pages, the metaverse offers a fully immersive, 3D experience – answering what the metaverse is
Blending the frontier between physical and virtual: Reality will increasingly become intertwined with virtuality and exist as a spectrum. Be it bringing the virtual world and digital objects into the physical world (augmented reality), or “transporting” humans from the physical world into the virtual one (virtual reality), or anything in between – answering where the metaverse will take place
At the convergence of immersive spaces, collaboration platforms, social experiences: Metaverses aren’t “just games”, it spans beyond. It enables users to cooperate and interact synchronously and async for work, foster social interaction and connection among users, or anything really in a more immersive and efficient manner – answering what people can do
Leveraging the creator economy: The metaverse will continue to capitalize on the trend of creators, artists, influences and others generating content, experiences, or digital assets, Just like the past two decades, it is an opportunity for individuals and co-creators to contribute to the platforms and in return earn from their creations or services – answering who contributes to the metaverse
There are definitely more factors we can add and dive into, but I shall leave it to the “Ideal Metaverse” segment in the later part of this article.
My conviction that metaverses are the future does not solely lie in their revolutionary capabilities, their potential to redefine industries or the enormous economic value they promise to generate. Instead, it’s that they address the core needs of the upcoming powerhouse demographic – Generation Z. This tech-savvy, connected generation and the ones after them will soon become the largest population and consumer base
The Perfect Storm is Brewing
Gen Zs, known colloquially as “Zoomers”, describes those born between 1997 and 2012. They hold the unique distinction of being the first generation to grow up in a digital world, their lives intrinsically intertwined with computers and digital devices. Inevitably, their online engagement outpaces all previous generations, reflecting their innate digital fluency. Two key characteristics inherent to these digital natives underscore the essential role metaverses will play in their lives.
Gen Z’s need for connectivity and dopamine
Technological advancements have led to countless benefits, but it has also nurtured a profound sense of isolation among that younger population – 79% of Gen Zs reported feelings of loneliness and are branded as the “loneliest generation ever”.
Ironically, one of the most prominent causes of this predicament lies in the very tool they utilize to seek connection – social media. Gen Zs, who are the heaviest users of these platforms, face a paradox; their pursuit of connection leads them to invest more time on social media, yet it is this very act that breeds further isolation
What may seem like an ephemeral sense of connectivity while scrolling through social feeds evaporates the moment they exit the platform, only to be replaced by a renewed wave of loneliness. This forms a “loneliness flywheel” – a relentless cycle which escalates as the average global time spent on social media continues to climb, with Gen Zs dedicating 50% more time than Millennials.
Should users regulate their social media usage? Probably. Will they? Highly unlikely, and this can be traced back to the brain's biochemical response to perceived social interaction
Every time users enter their social media applications in their quest for connectivity, their brain receives surges of dopamine, the neurotransmitter that helps in driving our brain's reward system. When users engage with social media - whether it’s receiving a like on a photo, or seeing positive comments on a post - the brain interprets these as social rewards. These rewards lead to the release of dopamine, which reinforces the behavior that led to the reward, creating a feedback loop that encourages us to repeat the action. In this case, the sense of social connectivity has been “druggified” by social media platforms.
To make matters worse, these platforms have become more proficient at supplying the “social connectivity drug” to users.
Over the years, social media platforms have evolved to more immersive content and incorporated shorter dopamine loops to keep users hooked. They’ve transformed from primarily text-based (Twitter, Facebook), to image-based (Instagram), to video-based (YouTube), and now short-form videos (TikTok) each shift designed to trigger faster and more potent dopamine responses which explain why social media usage is ever-increasing.
The metaverse's inherent immersiveness and interactivity offer a profound upgrade over traditional social media, providing users with a richer, more engaging social experience.
Unlike traditional platforms where interactivity is typically one-dimensional - likes, shares, comments - the metaverse brings 3D virtual environments where users can embody digital avatars, manipulate virtual objects, and engage in real-time, multi-sensory interactions
This heightened level of user involvement goes beyond what we've seen on platforms like TikTok and Instagram Live, where interaction, though possible, is largely linear and limited. Users in the metaverse are no longer passive consumers, but active participants. For instance, they could virtually attend a live concert, actively engaging with the performance by dancing, cheering, or interacting with the performer and other attendees. They could also participate in shared virtual experiences, like collaborative world-building, that encourage a deeper level of interaction and connection
Moreover, spatial interfaces in metaverse platforms offer a sense of physicality and presence that's absent in traditional social media. This allows users to establish and navigate social connections in a manner that mirrors real-world interactions, fostering a sense of social connection and belonging that is more profound than the often superficial relationships established on traditional social media
Consequently, the metaverse not only meets the digitally-native Gen Z's demand for stimulating and novel experiences but also facilitates deeper, more meaningful connections. In doing so, it holds the potential to fundamentally redefine the framework of digital social interaction, transforming passive consumers into active participants and explorers in their digital experiences.
Gen Z’s need for self-expression
The tide of generational values has turned, with 73% of Gen Zs placing a premium on self-expression as a vital component of a fulfilling life, starkly contrasting the societal pressure to conform felt by their predecessors. The concept of self-expression has not only grown in importance but has also undergone a significant evolution
Before the digital era, people’s identities were formed and expressed by what they were like and owned in the physical world – their given names, the houses they stayed in, the items they owned, and their physical appearances. The advent of the internet and social media has dramatically expanded this landscape, offering new avenues for expressing one's identity like self-chosen usernames, carefully curated text and visual social media feed, digital assets, and in-game avatars – These elements collectively contribute to the formation of a digital identity.
Gen Zs, as digital natives spending 60% of their daily waking hours on the internet, have embraced digital identity as an integral extension of themselves. It offers a canvas for them to mirror their individual personalities:
3 in 5 feel that having an online presence makes them feel more comfortable in their own skins
60% believe that how they present themselves online is more important than how they present themselves “in real life”
45% of gamers who use in-game cosmetics to customize their in-game appearances are Gen Zs
As the future generation spends more time in the digital sphere and importance of identities as a whole becomes increasingly essential, Gen Zs will naturally demand the ability to express themselves through more immersive digital mediums.
Metaverses offer a new frontier for digital identity and self-expression. These virtual environments unlock the ability for users to form digital identities without the same constraints in the physical world and traditional social media platforms. Users can curate avatars that reflect their personality, imagination, or aspirational selves, unrestricted by real-world norms or physical limitations. Beyond physical appearance, individuals can design personal spaces, participate in social activities, and interact with the environment and community, all of which offer deeper layers to their digital identity. This limitless scope for customization and interaction, blending reality and fantasy, makes the metaverse a compelling platform for Generation Z, who highly value individuality and self-expression. This evolving digital realm promises an even more immersive and diverse spectrum for identity expression in the future
The prominence of metaverses is not some distant pipe dream. In fact, it’s already here and is filled with Gen Zs
Gen Zs Already Dominate the Metaverse
Roblox, the world’s most popular metaverse platform with 200 million MAU and 60 million DAU, has a user base of predominantly Gen Zs - 83% of its users are below 24 years old, and 67% are below the age of 16.
Gen Zs also populate other world’s most popular metaverses, such as:
Zepeto has 20 million MAU, of which 70% are aged between 13 - 21
IMVU, has 7 million MAU and 1 million DAU, of which the majority are between 13 to 24 years old
Rec Room has 3 million MAU, of which the majority of users are between 13 to 16 years old
You might wonder if the skew towards the Gen Z demographic in metaverses is because the “older folks” do not have time and do not partake in “games” – this is not true - 72% of gamers are older than 21 years old, and the average gamer is 34 years old. It is simply the case that Gen Zs are the most ideal generation for metaverses.
To clarify, while metaverses often encompass elements of gaming, they aren't merely games. A game is typically a structured form of play with a set of rules and objectives. Metaverses, on the other hand, extend beyond this structure. They are expansive virtual spaces where users can not only play games but also socialize, create, explore, and even participate in virtual economies.
In a metaverse like Roblox, for instance, users don't just play predefined games; they also design their own games, trade virtual items, and host social gatherings. Similarly, Zepeto and IMVU are as much about avatar customization, virtual house decoration, and digital socializing as they are about gameplay. This fusion of gaming, social, and creative elements makes metaverses a unique digital ecosystem that caters perfectly to the multifaceted interests and digital fluency of Gen Z users
The predominance of Gen Zs in these virtual-social environments also answers why Web 3 metaverses like Sandbox and Decentraland are severely underperforming their Web 2 peers. Apart from them being comparatively nascent to Web 2 counterparts, there’s a fundamental mismatch between metaverse users and crypto users – only 13% of crypto users are Gen Zs
That’s not to say Web 2 metaverses will always be the victors. Moreover, it is more important to zoom out and recognize that the current population of metaverse users only forms a minuscule portion of the entire internet. Despite the hype and rapid expansion, the metaverse remains nascent, with a vast majority of global internet users yet to discover or delve into these virtual realms.
The Ideal Metaversal World
Rather than trying to define and split the camp between Web 2 and Web 3 metaverses, this subsequent segment shall paint the picture of the ideal metaverse future and how companies across different verticals are working on getting there and growing the pie.
Everyone Everywhere, All At Once
Today, most servers and devices are not powerful enough to support the dense, high-fidelity virtual worlds where every player can see and interact with one another, which has been preventing the recreation of immersive social experiences online.
Ideally, metaverses should be able to host tens of thousands of people in the same digital space – truly together and not spread out over a vast map or distributed in smaller groups across different servers – regardless if they’re on a computer, mobile phone, or virtual reality headset, without any latency or degradation in experience, regardless of where they are in the world.
Advancements are required in the various technological stacks to make the above vision a reality, such as:
Distributed Compute Software Platforms
Most games today support up to 100 concurrent users per server and often restrict the scale and interactivity of their virtual worlds in order to accommodate higher numbers of concurrent players. The primary reason for this limitation is that the underlying game server infrastructure struggles to manage the increasingly complex interactions and physics simulations required in immersive metaverse experiences. For users, this means less immersive and less interactive experiences, with fewer people able to participate in a single shared environment.
The 40 – 100 concurrent user constraint in game engines has been limiting the gaming industry for the last 10 years. Multiple projects, including Improbable, Hadean and AWS SimWeaver attempted to resolve this issue by utilizing a technique known as spatial partitioning. Despite these efforts, they have only seen limited success addressing the scaling problem.
For example, Improbable partnered with Yuga Labs, the creators of Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT and hosted up to 7,200 concurrent players in their demo for Yuga Lab’s Otherside Metaverse demo, though they claim to be able to host more than 10,000.
On the other hand, Metagravity is developing a novel model of concurrency and parallelism that overcomes the mathematical limit of the scale of virtual worlds – a characteristic typical of spatial partitioning – in cloud distribution. Their solution also dramatically reduces cloud operating costs (and associated climate impact) by 90-99% compared to traditional spatial partitioning platforms, enabling game developers to operate profitably.
In their latest demo, Metagravity claims to have hosted 30,000 concurrent users without compromising interactivity and experience and is now working towards hosting the first-ever million-people event in the metaverse.
Moreover, Metagravity is cloud and game-engine agnostic and has integrated with popular game engines like Unreal Engine, allowing developers to deploy their games on the platform without extensive rebuilds or lower-level programming.
Edge Computing
Even if the game servers are able to accommodate tens of thousands of players, onboarding and retaining users requires metaverses to offer them immersive experiences that are smooth and responsive. However, many consumer-grade computers, not to mention mobile phones or VR devices struggle to power the demanding requirement needed to do so. Ranny Haiby, CTO at Linux Foundation believes that end devices will always be constrained by power, size and weight – so why not offload the processing to the cloud instead?
Cloud computing may be used to relieve the dependency on users’ devices, as some or even all of the processing and rendering tasks may be performed on powerful servers instead before sending the results back to the users' devices. The reduced dependency can also mean longer battery life for devices, and devices need not be fitted with the latest and most powerful hardware, which reduces cost – both of which leads to mass adoption.
Still, this system has a limitation: the physical distance between users and these centralized data servers can contribute to noticeable lag or latency due to the time it takes for data to travel back and forth.
Edge computing addresses the issue of data latency by strategically locating data centers nearer to users. This geographical proximity significantly reduces the distance data needs to travel, thereby speeding up information exchange. Furthermore, edge computing enhances data security and privacy. By processing data locally, there's less information traversing extensive networks, mitigating the risk of cyber threats. It also bolsters efficiency as it offloads computational tasks from the users' devices, enabling them to run more resource-intensive applications. Moreover, edge computing is beneficial for real-time analytics, a critical requirement in metaverses, where immediate reaction to user inputs significantly enhances the user experience
Edge computing platforms such as Amazon Web Services’ Wavelength is already available on the market for developers to build metaverse and game applications on. Nvidia’s GeForce Now is a subscription service that runs games on their servers, allowing gamers to play high-fidelity games with low latency even on devices such as smartphones and tablets that typically won’t be able to support those games.
Yet, the widespread adoption of edge computing faces challenges, primarily the substantial costs associated with establishing and maintaining facilities near end-users.
Decentralized cloud computing networks such as Akash Network, Flux and Render Network are attempting to solve the cost issue (amongst other issues with centralized providers) by allowing anyone with the necessary hardware to join its network and offer their computing resources. These networks are currently more suitable for non-latency-sensitive use cases as they still lack the coverage and computational power needed to compete with centralized providers. However, as they continue to bootstrap network participants via cryptoeconomic incentives, decentralized computing networks may become the optimal platforms for developers in the future.
Regardless, even with edge computing mitigating distance-related latency by bringing servers closer to users, a bottleneck persists in data transmission volume and speed
High-speed Mobile Networks
Facilitating an immersive virtual environment where users feel as though they’re operating in real-time demands efficient data transmission between users' devices and game servers for every element and action input. As it stands, only wired home internet connections are capable of delivering the high speed, ultra-low latency and steadfast reliability required. There is progress in WiFi technology such as the WiFi 6 that helps narrow the gap between wired and wireless internet at home, but the bigger issue at hand is when users are out and about. Being able to enjoy the metaverses seamlessly only within home environments is akin to saying one can only enjoy real-time access to TikTok or instant messaging within their homes.
The metaverse’s true potential will only be unlocked when users can connect and enjoy seamless experiences regardless of their location, and the evolution of wireless mobile networks is a pivotal component. The transition from the 4th (4G) to 5th generation (5G) mobile network began in 2019, ushering in a new era with enhanced speed, reliability, lower latency, and expanded capacity to handle more devices without compromising performance – key attributes to realize a fully functional metaverse. As of 2022, global 5G penetration sits at 13%, and is expected to only overtake 4G subscriptions by 2028.
However, providing reliable 5G coverage to users still remains a challenge with only 3 out of 10 5G users perceived being connected more than 50% of the time.
Decentralized wireless networks like Helium and Pollen are taking on the oligopolistic wireless industry by extending coverage. Like decentralized compute networks, Helium and Pollen incentivize individual hotspot operators with tokens to provide network connectivity for their users. With sufficient hotspot operators, decentralized wireless networks can potentially offer better coverage than centralized operators without needing hefty infrastructure and operational investments, while also providing lower costs and greater privacy for their users. The performance of the recently released Helium Mobile Beta should be closely monitored, as the success of such networks would represent a major shift in the paradigm of wireless networking.
Still, the metaverse calls for more advanced wireless networks even with these developments.
According to Citi’s Metaverse report, sub 12 millisecond (ms) latency is required for truly immersive metaverse experiences; but the majority of 5G speed tests have measured latency between 10 to 39ms. The inadequacy of 5G to power highly immersive metaverses that integrates VR, AR and AI has also been acknowledged by China (country with the largest number of 5G subscriptions) and key players like the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and Ericsson.
An upgrade to 6G is a massive unlock and is anticipated to launch only in 2030. Investors should pay close attention to 6G’s development and timeline, given that it is a critical tailwind to metaverse adoption.
Interoperability Across Virtual Worlds
Almost every gamer has fantasized about transferring a prized in-game item from one game to another. However, such interoperability remains largely a dream. From developers’ viewpoint, there's little incentive to facilitate interoperability with games outside their revenue stream - they aim to retain players within their domain, not risk losing them. But, non-interoperability, as much as business incentives is a big blocker, it’s also a technical and game design issue. Games may differ in their game engines (Unreal vs Unity), graphic styles (high fidelity vs voxelized), settings (cyberpunk vs medieval), and avatar rigging and have their own database structures and protocols for managing in-game assets and player data.
From a game design perspective, full interoperability in which gamers can bring their sword from Elden Ring into Need For Speed and start slashing up sports cars is ridiculous and perhaps impossible. Still, a more limited interoperability, starting with allowing users to port cosmetic avatars and player data across games (in a controlled manner) is a feasible endeavour.
Taking avatars across different platforms is about being able to interact in digital spaces with one cohesive identity, of which I discussed the rising importance in an earlier segment. Today, a player’s identity is often fragmented and confined to the walled garden platforms.
A crucial step towards a unified metaverse is for studios to recognize the need for interoperability. Corporates like Meta, Microsoft, Sony, Epic Games, and Roblox have banded together to form the Metaverse Standards Forum, which aims coordinates requirements and resources to foster the creation and evolution of interoperability standards across organizations working in relevant domains. Since launching in June 2022, over 2400 organizations, including Khronos Group and W3C have joined the forum. Also, there’s Open Metaverse Alliance that seeks to establish a more open, user-controlled metaverse, with participants who are more Web 3 native, such as Decentraland, Dapper Labs, and Lamina1.
Today, some metaverse platforms such as VRChat, OnCyber, Monaverse and Hyperfy already accept open-sourced standards such as GLB and VRM files for their in-game avatars. This, however, requires players to know how to rig and optimize their models for the different platforms.
MetaMundo, an NFT-based avatar marketplace, is a platform for interoperable 3D avatars and assets. While users purchase and own the NFT avatars, their native use within the metaverse is not yet a reality. Owning an NFT grants holders the right to download various 3D files, but users must manually upload and optimize them in the metaverses before utilization.
Meanwhile, Ready Player Me, an avatar creation platform, streamlines this process by eliminating the need for users to upload and have optimization know-how. Users can create and customize their avatars, which are then available for use in over 3000 metaverses. However, this convenience comes at a price: metaverses must integrate with Ready Player Me’s specific SDK, and most avatars are not yet based on NFTs.
Though the creation of interoperable metaverses isn't strictly reliant on blockchain technology, its utilization can significantly streamline interoperability across virtual landscapes. Blockchain offers a neutral, standardized and verifiable infrastructure for the intake and reading of supported asset data stored within NFTs. In this case, wallets are like “portable inventory systems”, which eases the process of avatar interoperability and could eliminate the need for project-specific integrations or manual input from the NFT holder.
Emerging as promising solutions, Emergence and Reneverse are interoperability infrastructure platforms that leverage NFTs for cross-game compatibility. While still requiring game developers to integrate with their SDKs, both platforms provide a more diverse catalog of interoperable game assets such as wearables, NPCs, and other in-game assets, as opposed to avatar-only interoperability. Users simply need to own these NFTs in their blockchain wallets and connect to compatible metaverses to start using them.
Furthering this idea, M3 Org, a grassroots community championing the open metaverse, has proposed a metadata standard for NFTs that enables this streamlined interoperability across different file standards without the use of SDKs. Through their Boomboxhead showcase, they demonstrated the potential of interoperability where different renditions of the NFT asset— whether they be glb, vrm, jpg, or otherwise— are encoded in the metadata with a single NFT, showcasing the flexible and inclusive nature of the metaverse.
Apart from facilitating interoperability, decentralized blockchains allow for true ownership of digital assets and data
Owners, not renters
Imagine buying an item only to return it when the manufacturer goes bankrupt. It sounds absurd because you are the item’s rightful owner, not a renter. However, this scenario mirrors the reality of the Web 2 gaming world. When game developers shut down, players lose all their progress and assets they’ve painstakingly acquired over time because game assets and player records are stored on a centralized, private database that vanishes along with the game studio. Players of games like Tera Online, City of Heros, Marvel Mighty Heros and more likely thought they were immune to such losses, only to face the harsh reality when those games disappeared.
As the world gets increasingly digitalized, we need to shift from this ephemeral model of ownership to true, enduring possession. This shift requires tokenizing digital assets as NFTs. By doing so, ownership records are preserved on a decentralized ledger that outlasts any single game developer or studio, allowing the gaming community to sustain and build upon those records, even if the original developers cease operations.
Blockchain technology has immense potential to revolutionize the gaming industry by enhancing the user experience with user-owned virtual assets. However, widespread adoption in the gaming sector is yet to be achieved due to several technological obstacles.
Developing a high-quality game is already challenging in and of itself, made worse with the addition of blockchain technology. Integrating blockchain brings several complexities, including minting virtual assets as NFTs, creating an NFT marketplace, reading players’ wallets, and managing a blockchain-based economy. These added layers not only slow down the development process but also escalate game production costs.
Enhancing Game Developer Access to Blockchain
While blockchains with a strong game focus, such as ImmutableX, Ronin and Polygon have native support for game developers, several blockchain-agnostic platforms have also emerged to streamline blockchain integration. For instance, Metafab, Beamable and Emergence offer game developers a comprehensive toolkit to seamlessly incorporate and manage all things blockchain in their game. Stardust even allows game developers to spin up their own dedicated, scalable blockchain known as Supernets on the Polygon network.
Yet, minting game assets as NFTs still do not guarantee their permanence - more than 50% of NFTs on Ethereum are at risk of disappearing today. The token itself may permanently exist on the blockchain, but most metadata are hosted on centralized storage providers such as Amazon Web Services and linked to the NFT via an URL. Once the creator of the NFTs stops paying for the hosting service, the token becomes nothing but an empty, albeit permanent shell pointing to a defunct URL.
Decentralized storage networks like Filecoin and Arweave allow for uncensorable, verifiable, and permanent data storage, enabling game assets to truly live on even after the closure of the game studio. Projects like ChainSafe allows game developers to mint NFTs with metadata uploaded to Filecoin, while Ceramic and TableLand provide developers with a Web 3 native database that links off-chain metadata stored on decentralized storage networks to the blockchain where the NFTs reside; this allows for mutability that could unlock novel use-cases while retaining decentralized.
However, it’s not just game developers who need assistance with blockchains; their players do too.
Enhancing User Access to Blockchain
In decentralized games, players are required to create a blockchain wallet, which houses the decentralized assets that players use to interact with the metaverse.
The user experience of creating and managing wallets today remains one of the most significant hurdles to onboarding users onto the blockchain. The current process involves noting down a 12-word seed phrase and ensuring its safekeeping to avoid asset loss, which can be a considerable deterrent and should be abstracted. Reddit’s successful case study of onboarding 8 million users, which surpasses the combined total users of OpenSea and Ethereum NFT holders, is a testament to the importance of user-friendly and intuitive onboarding.
Wallet-as-a-Service platforms such as Magic and Web3Auth aid developers in providing an onboarding experience akin to traditional Web 2 login flows – users can sign up for a wallet with their email or social accounts, increase security with various authentication methods and even recover their wallets via social recovery. While Magic and Web3Auth cater to a broad range of use cases, Openfort is specifically designed for the gaming industry. Besides providing Web 2-like account creation and management, Openfort also abstracts the complexities of blockchain transactions by eliminating obtrusive gas fees and wallet prompts during gameplay, allowing gamers to enjoy blockchain-backed games none the wiser.
Final Words
The concept of a fully integrated, interoperable metaverse transcends the boundaries of individual technologies or companies. It demands a wide range of technological advancements and collective efforts across various industries. We've already touched upon the metaverse's immense potential, its profound technical challenges, and how emerging technologies like blockchain can help to overcome these hurdles.
However, at its core, the metaverse isn't only about technology; it fundamentally centers around people. It empowers individuals to customize their digital experiences, own their digital assets, and break free from physical world constraints. As our digital and physical lives merge, the metaverse promises a significant shift in society, not just in the way we interact with technology.
This vision of the metaverse isn't just an ambitious dream; it's an ongoing journey that we've only just embarked on. With this in mind, it's crucial to embrace the metaverse's potential and work through its challenges to create a digital space that's inclusive, accessible, and transformative for all
If you’re building in this space, please reach out to me – I would love to assist you.
In no particular order, massive shoutout to Jin, Nichanan of 1kx, WassieCapital of PlayVentures and Cloud for providing feedback and shaping this piece
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About Author
@JavierAng_ on Twitter
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Skimmed the piece and overall trend is clear for Gen Z (oof nice Tera shot love it) - but I fear metaverses or crypto is fit for mass adoption yet/anymore until builders improve UX and security first and foremost. How do we do this in the metaverse iterations? It's obviously a pretty complex issue. Which builders are working on this beyond social recovery wallets / MPC etc?
Gen Z metaverse and all is cool and it's all fun and games until real people with real lives get hacked real money, with zero recourse nor legislation or really anything that can be done about it.
Unfortunately bad actors have screwed over the very people crypto was supposed to/marketed to help - the disenfranchised, Gen Z, lower income - and millions are left hacked, rug pulled, or as unsecured creditors.
I can verifiably tell you there is a growing segment of society in which anti crypto populism is fomenting due to getting screwed over last year or hacked etc. and they no longer trust it per recent polls.
And if more mass hacks happen due to security flaws like Atomic Wallet - we are talking societal meltdown level stuff if this all goes mass adoption before this is improved.