HEARD about the metaverse and want to get involved? You can dive right in today.
The metaverse will constantly evolve over time, but you can get a taster for what it’s like already.
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There are lots of apps, games and gadgets you can use to enter the metaverse.
Think of the metaverse like a collection of connected digital worlds that you can explore in many different ways.
It’ll be a bit like the internet, but more immersive, and centred around experiences.
The true metaverse will take years to develop, but it’s possible to get a flavour of what it will look like right now.
Here’s what you need to do.
Roblox
Roblox is a great example of a metaverse-style game.
For a start, it’s a huge platform with tens of millions of users – all living in the same virtual worlds.
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Importantly, Roblox lets you create your own worlds and games, and then let other enter them.
So there are loads of worlds inside the game, each with their own look, feel and community.
You can play Roblox on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and Xbox One.
Minecraft
Similar to Roblox, Minecraft is a hugely popular online game focused around creation.
Rather than limiting players to a single world, Minecraft gamers can create their own virtual universes.
And because it’s multiplayer, friends and even strangers can connect and join in on the fun.
Minecraft has been out for years, so the quantity and quality of its virtual worlds have increased massively over time.
Minecraft is available on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Fortnite
At first glance, Fortnite is just a simple shooter game.
It’s multiplayer, sure, but it’s a battle royale game that’s much like Call of Duty Warzone or PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds.
What makes Fortnite metaverse-esque is that it also hosts giant global experiences.
Fortnite has showcased live music, art and even movies that can be enjoyed together in a virtual world.
Much of the metaverse will be built around these shared experiences in online worlds.
Fortnite is available on Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5 Xbox One, Xbox Series X / S and Android.
Decentraland
Decentraland is a giant virtual world built around the concept of virtual real estate.
Users can buy virtual plots of land inside the Decentraland universe.
And these plots of land are held and owned as NFTs – non-fungible tokens.
It’s basically like Bitcoin: it’s recorded on the blockchain, but instead of owning a cryptocurrency, you’re owning a virtual token.
You can develop your own land, and explore it with friends.
Decentraland is a browser-based game, so you need access to a web browser to play.
You’ll also likely want a cryptocurrency wallet to store your NFTs, if you plan to actually purchase virtual land.
Oculus
Oculus is really getting into what the future of the metaverse will probably look like.
Facebook’s Oculus Quest 2 is the latest headset from the company, and lets you glimpse the future.
It’s a virtual reality headset, which means you’re totally immersed in the computer-generated world.
There’s the core Oculus home experience, and through that you can navigate a host of VR apps and games.
It’s almost like wearing an iPhone and living inside the screen.
There are popular dance games like Beat Saber, virtual worlds including Facebook’s Horizon, and entertainment too – including a Netflix app.
Many of these experiences can be enjoyed with friends.
And Facebook has even developed Horizon Workrooms to let you work with colleagues in virtual spaces.
You can interact with the world using hand controllers, or even your own hands with certain settings activated.
And you can move around freely in the virtual space, as if it were the real world.
You’ll have to fork out $299/£299 to get the Oculus headset.
But it’s absolutely the most satisfying way to glimpse the metaverse today – without spending an absolute fortune.
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This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk
