metaverse

Metaverse refers to a collective virtual shared space that blends digitally enhanced physical reality with persistently available virtual environments. It comprises interconnected 3D spaces and augmented reality experiences and is not confined to a single platform. The concept covers social interaction, gaming, work, and commerce conducted in immersive digital settings.

Its modern usage was popularized after the term appeared in Neal Stephenson's 1992 novel Snow Crash, and has since been applied to describe ongoing efforts by technology companies to create expansive, multiuser virtual worlds with real-time collaboration.

Technologies commonly cited as foundational include real-time 3D graphics, virtual reality and augmented reality (XR), high-speed networking, cloud and edge computing, and digital avatars. Many projects also incorporate blockchain-based ownership and marketplaces for virtual assets, though interoperability across different metaverse platforms remains incomplete and standards are evolving.

Typical features are persistence, social presence, user-generated content, and virtual economies. Intended use cases span entertainment and social interaction, remote work and collaboration, education, training, and live events.

Major participants include Meta (Facebook), Microsoft, Roblox, Epic Games, Decentraland, The Sandbox, and other platform developers. Because the metaverse is not a single product, experiences often differ in scope, standards, and interoperability, with ongoing debates about how to connect or harmonize different environments.

Criticisms focus on privacy and safety, platform fragmentation, accessibility, and environmental impact, as well as questions about governance, digital ownership, data rights, and the equitable distribution of benefits.