If there’s one phenomenon that has really stirred the world of technology over the past year or so, it’s undoubtedly the metaverse. Countless experts have talked about it, endless articles have been written, while technology and business forums haven’t stopped buzzing with the topic. Ever since Mark Zuckerberg announced his commitment to the metaverse as a business in 2021, virtual reality has become one of the great strategic “drivers” of our times. So what’s happened since that big announcement?

The corporate world looks to the metaverse

While the metaverse is nothing new in the world of technology – far from it, in fact –, 2022 was when more and more stakeholders with absolutely nothing to do with technological development began to take an interest in this particular ecosystem. More and more organisations from the private sector have started to understand just what is the metaverse, how it works and, above all, the opportunities it can offer their respective industries.

With platforms like Second Life in the rear view mirror and a solid track record in the digital entertainment market, the world of entertainment – moving beyond just video games – has begun to explore some potential business developments, including organising massive events in the metaverse, such as concerts and eSports, starting up exclusive virtual stores, as well as NFT exhibitions… just some examples of the private initiatives taking place in the world of virtual reality.

Some significant investments are also beginning to come to light – particularly in the United States – linked to acquiring “properties” to virtually “build” in the future. Although this is a trend that’s yet to take off, it shows that the companies with the most financial muscle are starting to see the metaverse as a field of opportunity.

The metaverse “opens the door”. More and better devices

Another factor that has influenced the increasing popularity of the metaverse is the greater supply of hardware needed to connect to it among the wider public. Although Oculus is the biggest retailer of autonomous virtual reality headsets with its Quest 2 product in both “versions” – one being aimed at the professional world –, many other brands are starting up their own product developments.

Sony and Play Station, HTC, Windows, Nintendo and Valve have all launched their own devices on the market. They even include low-cost “accessories” – made of cardboard – that allow mobile phones to give users an experience similar to one they might get in the metaverse, but without the full range of features. What’s clear is that the market now offers more than just one option, which has led to better price points and more options for those who want to experiment with virtual reality.

Trends in the metaverse from a user’s perspective

Another consequence of the expansion of the metaverse as a concept in our collective imagination is that new professional careers are beginning to emerge, all linked to the needs, knowledge and tasks that will be in demand in the metaverse in the short term.

Throughout 2022, there was an increase in the amount of internet searches for terms and information both directly and indirectly related to the metaverse:

Personal data and digital footprints. When people start to seriously look at the metaverse, they begin to wonder how much personal information they’re going to be expected to share, what kind, and how they’ll manage it effectively and, above all, securely. It’s not just about the various avatars they’ll use, but also all the personal data that will make up their “digital footprint”.

Security. The greater amounts of data in virtual environments, the more chances users face of suffering data theft, identity theft and other inappropriate uses of their data. Applications designed to address this issue also saw significant development throughout 2022.

Digital goods and services. From cryptocurrencies to NFTs, users have begun to confidently handle “properties” with taxable economic value that can only exist in a digital world like the metaverse. Despite the instability of the crypto world, crypto wallets and how they’re managed are no longer just the playthings of experts and tech-obsessives.