What Will You Be Able to Do in the Metaverse in 2022?

<p>The future potential of the metaverse are apparently endless, but is there anything you can accomplish in the metaverse right now? </p> <p>The metaverse is often couched in such futuristic terms that it’s difficult to understand how you can get involved in it today. But, in reality, metaverse-like worlds have existed for decades, and you may have previously encountered some of them without even realising it. </p> <p>What is the metaverse again? </p> <p>The metaverse, based on venture capitalist Matthew Ball's theory, is a permanent online universe that blurs the barriers between reality and virtual reality. The metaverse is a 24/7 online environment populated by economics that reward a new network of artists and infrastructure providers. It is far more than a Call of Duty match. Importantly, this economy is based on interoperable in-game assets. This approach deviates significantly from the "walled gardens" – closed ecosystems – that we're accustomed to; Ball gives the example of a skin for a Counter-Strike pistol that could easily be translated into a decoration for a Fortnite weapon. </p> <p>While Mark Zuckerberg's Meta (previously Facebook) has its own ideas for the metaverse, the cryptocurrency industry believes blockchain technology is ideal for this innovative online realm. Crypto games such as The Sandbox and Decentraland provide early glimpses of how a creator-led, crypto- and NFT-powered economy might operate. So, here's what you can do today in the metaverse. </p> <p>In virtual worlds, you can create, explore, and play. </p> <p>For the greater part of a decade, games like Minecraft and Roblox have been giving metaverse-type experiences; Second Life and Eve Online have been active since 2003, and World of Warcraft debuted in 2004. </p> <p>Second Life, with its creator-led economy and enormous sandbox environment, is one of the closest metaverse analogues. In Second Life, you can do whatever you want, and some people have been documented spending their whole lives in the game, living off the vir