Is VR ready to make the metaverse a reality? Let’s take a dive into what VR needs to achieve this goal and the type of games that become huge and define the VR industry. Let’s dive in and explore.
Is VR ready for the metaverse?
This is a question that has been on the minds of many virtual reality enthusiasts, game developers, and tech experts. The metaverse is a term used to describe a shared virtual space where users can interact with each other in a variety of ways.
Originally derived from Neal Stepehnson’s Snow Crash, This futuristic vision has been popularized in popular culture through movies like The Matrix and Ready Player One. Metaverse is typically described as a shared virtual world where people can meet, play, chat work, and other various things we could do in real life.
But is VR (Virtual reality) technology ready to bring the metaverse to life?
The answer to this question is complicated. VR has made great strides in recent years, but there are still a few hurdles that need to be overcome before the technology can truly bring the metaverse to life.
Primarily, VR needs to have its first genre-defining games. These are games that are so good that they attract millions of players and become part of the cultural zeitgeist.
Genre Defining Game?
So what makes a genre-defining game? Is it a critically acclaimed title like God of War or Portal 2? Or is it something else entirely?
The truth is that a “must-play” game must be something huge that can define the entire VR industry. It needs to be something like how Fortnite changed the Battle Royale genre or how World of Warcraft defined the Role-Playing genre.
So far, we have already seen our fair share of some good VR games out there. Half-Life: Alyx is a critically acclaimed title that has received rave reviews from both players and critics alike. Beat Saber, a rhythm game that has players slashing their way through blocks to the beat of the music, has also become a fan favorite. These games are a step in the right direction, but as we can see, the VR industry needs more “genre-defining” games to truly take off.
High Cost
Another obstacle that VR technology needs to overcome is its high cost.
VR headsets and accessories can be expensive, which limits their accessibility to a wider audience. However, there have been some efforts to make VR more affordable. Oculus Quest 2, for example, is a VR headset that is relatively affordable and has been gaining popularity among gamers. Meta’s VR Quest headsets are also the best-selling devices with 20 million in sales.
Despite these hurdles, the progression of virtual reality technology has been impressive. From the clunky VR headsets of the past to the sleek and powerful devices of today, VR has come a long way. As technology continues to advance, it’s only a matter of time before VR becomes the perfect tool to bring the metaverse to life.
Final Thoughts
VR still has a few obstacles to overcome before it can fully realize the vision of the metaverse. “Must-play” games, accessibility, and affordability are just some of the challenges that need to be addressed. But with the progression of technology and the dedication of VR enthusiasts and game developers, it’s only a matter of time before VR becomes the key to unlocking the metaverse.
Edmond is a passionate writer for Video games, GameFi and Web3. He has worked for top GameFi companies and video game/crypto news websites.
