While the Metaverse may sound like something found within the pages of an obscure science-fiction novel, it is poised to become a central part of our everyday lives.
Let’s not overcomplicate this.
The “metaverse” isn’t one thing. Not a single app. Not some hidden world you unlock.
It’s more like… a direction the internet is trying to go in.
And honestly? It’s not there yet.
Not even close.
Table of Contents
So what is it then?
Simple version.
It’s digital spaces where you show up as an avatar and interact with other people in real time. You talk. Move around. Attend stuff. Maybe buy things. Maybe build things.
That’s it.
But the problem starts when people try to make it sound bigger than it is.
Because right now, it’s fragmented.
You jump into VRChat — totally different vibe.
Then into Decentraland — feels like a different universe.
Then something like Horizon Worlds — and suddenly you’re wondering why it feels empty.
No continuity.
No shared identity.
That “connected universe” idea? Still mostly theory.
The hype phase… yeah, that was intense
You remember when Meta changed its name?
That wasn’t small.
That was a signal.
Billions got poured in. Suddenly every company wanted a “metaverse strategy.” Virtual land was selling. People were buying digital sneakers. It got weird fast.
And for a moment, it felt like:
“Okay… this is happening NOW.”
Then users showed up.
And quietly left.
Why people didn’t stick around
This is where things get real.
Because the idea was exciting. But the experience?
Not always.
You log in. You walk around. You look at stuff. Maybe talk to someone.
And then…
“What next?”
That question killed momentum for a lot of platforms.
Not because the tech is bad—but because the purpose isn’t clear yet.
Where it actually works (no guessing here)
Gaming. Easily the strongest use case.
And not in a theoretical way—it’s already functioning like a metaverse without calling itself one.
Take Fortnite.
Millions of people. Live concerts. Events. Social interaction. It just works. No explanation needed.
Same with Roblox.
Kids aren’t saying “let’s go to the metaverse.”
They’re just going there. Building stuff. Playing. Hanging out.
That’s the difference between forced vision and natural adoption.
Not everything is gaming though
Some areas are quietly working… just not getting headlines.
Training & simulation
This one’s actually useful.
Doctors practicing procedures. Engineers testing systems. Even pilots using simulations that feel real enough to matter.
Mistakes here don’t cost lives or money.
That’s huge.
Virtual meetings (but not like you think)
No, it’s not replacing Zoom.
Let’s be real.
But for certain things—collaboration, design, walkthroughs—it adds something flat screens don’t.
Still early though. Still awkward sometimes.
Digital commerce
Yeah, people are buying virtual stuff.
Not just NFTs anymore.
- Avatar clothing
- In-game items
- Branded experiences
Some brands made serious money here.
Others jumped in, made noise, and disappeared quietly.
The platform situation (this is where it gets messy)
There’s no single winner.
Not even close.
Here’s how things roughly look right now:
| Platform | What it focuses on | What’s good about it | Where it struggles | Rough user base |
| Horizon Worlds | Social VR | Backed by Meta, strong funding | Low engagement, feels empty | ~300K monthly |
| VRChat | Social + user worlds | Deep customization, active users | Not beginner-friendly | 10M+ users |
| Decentraland | Blockchain + ownership | Digital land & economy | Low daily activity | ~50K users |
| Roblox | Game creation platform | Massive creator ecosystem | Not fully immersive VR | 200M+ monthly |
| Fortnite | Events + gaming | Polished, huge events | Closed ecosystem | 230M+ users |
Notice something?
Each one is good at one thing.
None of them do everything.
Hardware… yeah, still a bottleneck
This part slows everything down.
Because the “ideal metaverse” depends heavily on VR and AR.
And right now?
It’s not frictionless.
Devices like Meta Quest 3 are improving, no doubt. Better visuals, smoother performance.
But still:
- You can’t wear them all day
- Some people feel dizzy
- Price matters (a lot more than companies admit)
Until this gets easier, adoption stays limited.
AR might actually be the bigger deal
This doesn’t get talked about enough.
VR pulls you out of reality.
AR adds to it.
That difference matters.
Imagine:
- Directions floating in front of you
- Notifications in your vision
- Real-world spaces mixed with digital layers
That’s less disruptive. More natural.
And probably more scalable long-term.
The money side (not as simple as headlines make it sound)
People are earning here.
But it’s uneven.
Creator economy
This is the strongest part.
Developers building experiences inside Roblox Studio are making real income.
Not hype. Actual money.
Some creators have earned millions collectively.
Virtual land and assets
This is where things get… unpredictable.
Platforms like Decentraland saw land selling for thousands.
Now?
Some areas are active.
Others are empty.
So yeah—it works. But it’s risky.
The uncomfortable parts (people don’t like discussing these)
Let’s not pretend it’s all exciting.
There are issues.
Privacy
In a 3D space, you’re not just clicking.
You’re moving. Talking. Interacting.
That’s deeper data than traditional apps.
Addiction
Immersion is powerful.
Too powerful sometimes.
Time disappears fast in these environments.
Fragmentation
This one’s big.
Your identity doesn’t carry across platforms.
Your assets don’t transfer.
So the “unified metaverse”?
Still not real.
So… is it failing?
No.
But it’s definitely not living up to the early hype.
And honestly, that’s fine.
Because now things are slowing down… and getting more practical.
Less marketing.
More building.
What’s likely to happen next
Don’t expect a sudden breakthrough moment.
It’s not going to be like:
“Boom. Metaverse is here.”
Instead, it’ll creep in slowly.
- Better online collaboration
- More immersive games
- AR becoming part of daily life
You won’t notice it all at once.
You’ll just start using pieces of it.
Things are Getting Meta
As a hybrid of cutting-edge advances in virtual reality (VR) augmented reality (AR), the Metaverse is poised to change what we mean by the “digital world”.
No longer an external platform accessed through the medium of a computer or smartphone, the Metaverse is an immersive virtual world in which users are able to experience everything from live in-person events to virtual global expeditions.
The unprecedented level of immersion promised by the Metaverse will profoundly alter the way users work and play. We have already seen how the music and video gaming industries are being integrated and transformed by new digital technologies, and these kinds of hybrid events are only the beginning. As the Metaverse grows and develops, UX designers and marketing professionals will find themselves at the forefront of this exciting new frontier.
Perspective is Everything
The very idea of the Metaverse can be overwhelming to some, but UX designers will need to approach it with courage and creativity. The internet currently hosts 4.8 billion users globally, meaning that any profound changes to its infrastructure will have far-reaching impacts. Those who wish to establish themselves as leaders in this space should consider adjusting their perspective on design: the Metaverse will not just be a platform for “users”, but an immersive digital environment for people.
To provide the best possible experience, UX designers need to level up their design game and think about how to create programs that people want to become immersed in. The Metaverse will allow for a more elevated and sophisticated level of interaction than the present internet, giving marketers and UX designers more tools at their disposal than ever before. Giving players a sense of agency and adventure by designing interactive environments that they are able to discover for themselves will help redefine what we mean by “engagement”.
Moreover, the more complex and lifelike social interactions made possible by the Metaverse will give an edge to designers who incorporate ethical and accessible design, cutting-edge research, collaboration, empathy and user advocacy into their digital worlds. Making seemingly complex activities such as digital real estate and NFT transactions easy and intuitive will massively increase user engagement. While it may seem like a video game, the Metaverse is more like a virtual society, and those who approach it with this mindset will help make it a flourishing, vibrant place to be.
The New Reality of Marketing
Consumers are making a clear shift towards Augmented Reality platforms as digital social interactions become increasingly sophisticated and life-like. As futuristic as the Metaverse sounds, the rules of our universe still apply, including the law of supply and demand. Tracking the increased demand for complete digital-social immersion is pivotal for marketers looking to supply cutting-edge products and experiences.
Grasping the potential of the Metaverse is likely to be a game changer for the savvy marketer. Exposure and sales–the ultimate goal of any marketing company–are the likely outcomes for those who align themselves with a technology that is poised to transform nearly every industry on the planet. Best of all, the potential for growth resulting from this technology is extraordinary.
The key demographic to consider here is Gen Z, 87% of whom are already engaged with Metaverse platforms. This generation is not yet at its full earning power and has massive potential as future consumers. As an example, in 2021, a London start-up named Dimension Studio saw profits double after experimenting with UX marketing in the Metaverse.
By creating immersive designs integrated with clever consumer content that “virtually” draws the consumer in, they were able to boost customer engagement. Balenciega’s Afterworld Game is another great example of this strategy, as it netted the company $6.5 million in revenue. These major successes were driven by UX and marketing professionals who rose to creatively meet the challenges posed by this entirely new environment.
Final thoughts
The metaverse right now feels unfinished.
Because it is.
Some parts already work really well. Others feel empty or pointless. And some ideas will probably disappear completely.
But the core idea—being present inside digital spaces instead of just looking at them—
That’s not going away.
It’s just taking its time.
About Patrick Parker
Patrick Parker is a five-time tech founder and the CEO of SaaS Partners. From business ideation to product development to building scalable marketing strategies, SaaS Partners is a support system and launch pad for entrepreneurs.