If you’re still trying to grasp the concept of the metaverse, an alternate virtual existence to the physical world, we’ll clarify it through concrete examples.
The metaverse is becoming a reality, with major tech players such as Facebook, Nvidia, and Microsoft already embracing the idea of a virtual world. Mark Zuckerberg’s company, in particular, has gone to the extent of changing its name to Meta.
According to the Wunderman Thompson report, only 38% of global consumers are familiar with the term “Metaverse.” However, the allure of a virtual universe with complete creative freedom and the ability to establish businesses is attracting more investors. While full immersion technology hasn’t been achieved yet, several examples illustrate the trajectory of this new realm.
The Pioneering Book The first mention of the metaverse can be traced back to Neal Stephenson’s 1992 novel, ‘Snow Crash.’ This science fiction work envisions a virtual world as an extension of reality, where individuals lead a dual life. The protagonist, a pizza delivery boy, transforms into a samurai warrior prince upon entering this metaverse.
Ernest Cline’s ‘Ready Player One,’ published in 2011, presents Oasis as the most popular and closest metaverse, later adapted to film by Steven Spielberg in 2018.
Cinematic Representation Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of ‘Ready Player One’ encapsulates the concept, depicting a dystopian future where the virtual reality game Oasis serves as an escape for entertainment and work. Additionally, the 2009 film ‘The Surrogates,’ featuring Bruce Willis, explores a future where humanity lives through mind-controlled robots, free from pain or danger.
The movie ‘Free Guy’ introduces interactive worlds, revealing its protagonist’s discovery that he is a character in a virtual reality video game emulating the real world. Undoubtedly, ‘Matrix,’ directed by the Wachowski sisters, stands as a sci-fi classic depicting a future where humans are enslaved by artificial intelligence, navigating a simulated reality.
Video Games with Expansive Universes Video games like ‘Minecraft’ and ‘Roblox’ closely align with the metaverse concept. ‘Minecraft’ allows players to create and interact in open-world environments, while ‘Roblox’ permits users to fashion their games and virtual worlds, positioning it as a prominent metaverse platform. ‘Fortnite,’ a Battle Royale universe, exemplifies the metaverse idea with evolving interactions, including exhibitions, film festivals, and virtual concerts.
A Community for Interaction (and Work) Beyond entertainment, the metaverse facilitates social connections. ‘Second Life,’ a virtual community since 2003, enables users to chat, share interests, trade virtual property, and engage in group activities using avatars. Other games like ‘The Sims’ and ‘Animal Crossing’ have evolved to include interconnected communities, allowing players to attend virtual events and even celebrate graduations.
Companies like Microsoft are entering the work sphere within the metaverse, with ‘Mesh’ set to revolutionize video calls, providing avatars, virtual offices, and 3D object manipulation.
Advertising in the Virtual Domain Given the metaverse’s increasing prominence, brands are tapping into this virtual space for advertising. In ‘Animal Crossing,’ brands like Pandora, San Miguel, and KFC have established a virtual presence. Luxury brands like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Burberry, and Balenciaga are venturing into the metaverse, launching products and creating their own virtual games.
Simulating the Real World Beyond advertising, virtual worlds offer value for companies in testing and studying products. Unity is working with virtual twins, mimicking real-world counterparts to observe and predict behavior. Nvidia’s Omniverse platform allows advanced simulations of the real world, enabling studies like Norman Foster’s architectural firm predicting building impacts over time. BMW also uses virtual technology to recreate factories for logistical and structural analysis.
In essence, the metaverse is transitioning from fiction to a scientific reality.