The Metaverse already exists, it's just currently called the Internet
Here is the punchline: the Metaverse already exists, it just happens to be called the Internet. Consider the seven qualities Matthew Ball used to define the Metaverse; the Internet satisfies all of them:
- The Internet is persistent
- The Internet is synchronous and live
- The Internet has no cap to concurrent users, while also providing each user with an individual sense of “presence”
- The Internet has a fully functioning economy
- The Internet is an experience that spans both the digital and physical worlds, private and public networks/experiences, and open and closed platforms
- The Internet offers unprecedented (although not perfect) interoperability of data, digital items/assets, content, etc.
- The Internet is populated by “content” and “experiences” created and operated by an incredibly wide range of contributors