The difference and what it means for you

Although the metaverse and virtual reality (VR) are related, it is difficult to directly compare them. The Metaverse is a fictional platform currently in development, but virtual reality is a technology already available today. When the metaverse comes along, it will likely allow us to interact through virtual reality, but it is hoped that the metaverse will extend far beyond the single technology of virtual reality.

Overall findings

Metaverse and virtual reality are intertwined, but they are not the same thing, nor do they belong to the same class of concepts. Metaverse is a platform that may extend or replace the Internet, and virtual reality is technology that allows us to experience virtual worlds. Virtual reality is something you can experience right now, but the Metaverse is still in development and its final form is yet to be revealed.

The metaverse can be accessed not only in virtual reality, but also in augmented reality (AR) and traditional devices such as computers and phones.

The metaverse can also leverage blockchain and other technologies to decentralize control and allow users to create and own their own assets. This is similar to how web3 is currently supposed to be. Since the metaverse doesn’t exist yet, it’s impossible to know exactly which path it will take.

Accessibility: Virtual Reality Now Available

One of the biggest differences between virtual reality and the metaverse is the availability of virtual reality. If you want to try a virtual experience but don’t know if you should wait for the metaverse or try virtual reality, don’t wait. Today, VR is already available from multiple companies across multiple platforms, but we have no way of knowing exactly how long it will take to implement the Metaverse or how it will be implemented.

When the Metaverse comes to fruition, it may become more accessible than virtual reality. While virtual reality equipment is becoming less expensive to purchase and easier to use than it used to be, the Metaverse can still be accessed in multiple ways. Virtual reality is a big part of it, but augmented reality and the devices you already have, such as mobile phones, tablets, and computers, may also offer a less immersive experience.

Scope: Virtual Reality is Just One Side of the Metaverse

Virtual reality will likely be a big part of the metaverse, but it’s still just one aspect of a much larger platform. One of the basic ideas behind the Metaverse is that it could extend or even replace the Internet with entirely new ways to share information, socialize, work and play.

Virtual reality contains many similar experiences in the form of games and apps, but these experiences are disjointed and disconnected from each other. In contrast, the Metaverse lets you seamlessly navigate from one website to her next as easily as pointing your web browser at a new one.

Persistence: The Metaverse Becomes a Persistent World of Worlds

The Metaverse is expected to be a persistent world, made up of many connected worlds that are themselves persistent. This means that everything will continue to run even when you are not connected, and anything that has been modified, created or destroyed will remain in place the next time you connect. Virtual reality experiences are all disconnected from each other, so there is no continuity between them.

Some virtual reality games feature persistent worlds, while others are more basic games where you play from scratch every time without changing anything. Some VR games allow you to build and create things, but only in that game. The Metaverse may allow users to buy, sell, trade, and even create permanent virtual goods and unique assets that continue to exist after they log out.

Final Verdict: It’s Too Early for the Metaverse

Virtual reality is a technology we can experience today, but the metaverse is a work in progress and we can only speculate.

The metaverse will almost certainly include VR as a way to access it, but it can also leverage AR and other technologies. If you’re interested in the idea of ​​a virtual experience, check out existing VR headsets such as the Quest 2 and Vive Pro.

On the other hand, if you’re interested in technology and curious about how the Internet and other connected experiences will evolve in the future, you’ll want to keep an eye on how the metaverse evolves.