We often hear that the metaverse is the next era-defining tech shift, one that will someday change the world. But here’s the twist: it’s not a sudden revolution. In fact, it’s already unfolding around us, we just haven’t paid much attention. One day we’ll wake up in an entirely different world, yet those changes won’t have happened overnight — they’ve been evolving for years, just in the background. The question isn’t if the metaverse will change our world, but how soon we’ll realize it’s already doing so.
Various metaverse platforms are laying the foundation for this shift. Companies both large and small are building these virtual worlds, inviting users to explore new forms of interaction on platforms like Decentraland, Roblox, Horizon Worlds, The Sandbox, Holiverse, and many others.
Look at how brands are flocking to metaverse platforms, investing heavily in these projects right now. Yet many experts claim that retailers are still moving too slowly. The stakes are high, and the potential for growth is enormous, so hesitation could be costly. Those who hesitate risk missing the chance to transform consumer experiences and secure their place in the digital future.
Metaverse as a New Frontier for Digital Wealth
Early Bitcoin adopters amassed wealth when the industry was still niche and there were not so many people in it. In this way, they became inconceivably rich. Metaverse could offer similar opportunities for today’s pioneers. It might be the next Gold Rush, where owning virtual land could turn you into a digital landlord, setting up virtual businesses that generate real profits.
The concept of digital assets is the basis of the metaverse economy. The digital assets in metaverses are often presented by NFTs (non-fungible tokens) that serve as proof of ownership for digital goods like art, collectables, in-game items, etc. Users are allowed to create, sell and trade their tokens.
New Income Streams in the Metaverse
User activities in the metaverse often center around creativity and ownership, reshaping the economy and opening new income sources. Artists, gamers and musicians can benefit from these opportunities, minting their pieces of art as NFTs and selling them, while gamers earn exclusive items or skins in metaverse games.
The metaverse is redefining economic landscapes. Take “Axie Infinity” as an example. This play-to-earn metaverse game allowed players to earn an average of 1,600 USD per month. For countries like Indonesia, this became a significant source of income for local players, though it was noticeable even in developed countries, especially during the pandemic when people couldn’t go to their regular work.
Some players made gaming a full-time job, and this trend is expected to rise. Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit, thinks that most games will pay users to play. According to his forecast, the share of PTE games will reach 90% of the gaming market within the next five years. While this forecast may seem too optimistic, one thing is clear: the number of PTE games will soon significantly increase .
Nevertheless, it’s true that the metaverse is changing gaming entirely. This market is going to explode as soon as AR devices are available for users. According to figures, the VR gaming market will surpass $53 billion by 2028. Those who will have the best VR headsets will earn the most of it therefore Meta tries so hard to create the innovative product. Tech giants keep on investing in the VR infrastructure to win this race.
Virtual Jobs
The metaverse is opening up a wide range of job opportunities, which are available even for those who are new to the digital landscape. With the expansion of the metaverse, this trend will only increase. We’re already seeing a rise in a new generation of professionals, including virtual event planners, metaverse tour guides, digital fashion designers, etc. They will soon make their living in the emerging digital universe.
Some famous brands, such as IKEA, are already hiring staff for their virtual stores. In summer, it opened its virtual store in the Roblox metaverse and hired real employees to work inside the game. They help customers choose furniture, serve digital versions of IKEA’s iconic meatballs, and perform other duties similar to those in a real IKEA store. This is an example of blending real-world branding with virtual engagement.
The Sky’s the Limit: Virtual Classrooms Take Flight
Imagine yourself in the cockpit of a plane with a task to guide the plane through turbulent skies. You adjust the throttle, navigate around storm clouds, and it seems to you that you do everything properly. But when you think you’ve got everything under control, another aircraft suddenly appears in your flight path. Your whole life flashes before your eyes as alarms go off. The collision seems inevitable—CRASH!
The scene freezes then and you take off your headset. It was only a training exercise, but it felt incredibly real. This is not a fantasy but a real class within the Prisms VR program. It was specifically designed to teach students problem-solving skills. Studying in the virtual classroom is the safest to practice handling potential collisions, all within the safety of a metaverse simulation.
You can find such classrooms across 130+ school systems in 30 US states, Romania, Singapore, and China. Metaverse technologies like this are revolutionizing education.
UK-based company Bodyswaps goes even further. It uses #VR to teach soft skills like interview techniques and public speaking. Previously, it was hard for students to master these skills in a classroom setting. Meanwhile, subjects that require high visualization, like chemistry, biology, and ship navigation have found new homes in the metaverse. Even complex concepts are more engaging and accessible in virtual space. Using metaverse education, students can go on immersive virtual trips to world-class museums, travel in space or even walk among dinosaurs — experiences they could never access otherwise.
From Classroom to Operating Room
Step from classroom to operating room to spot revolutionary changes in medicine and healthcare. AR, VR technologies open new frontiers in the sphere where precision and safety are paramount.
In 2020 surgeons at Johns Hopkins University successfully performed their first augmented reality (AR) surgery. The patient had severe back pain. Using AR headsets surgeons could see CT scan images of the patient’s internal organs to accurately insert screws and fuse vertebrae.
A complex surgery conducted in Lisbon is another fascinating example, worth mentioning. A surgeon was wearing AR glasses, which projected the patient’s diagnostic images and live guidance from a specialist located 900 kilometers away. This is how residents of remote areas can receive top-notch medical help regardless of their location.
Medical experts also use the concept of digital twins to create virtual replicas of patients’ bodies. It enables them to simulate surgery before the actual procedure. This is the best way to identify risks and avoid complications.
These are just several examples, but this practice becomes more common and changes the medical sphere altogether. The metaverse is no longer a futuristic concept. This is a present-day reality that transforms the way we learn, work, heal and amuse ourselves.
The Metaverse as a Hub for Music, Art, and Authentic Community
Metaverse has a broader impact beyond professional sectors. It reshapes entertainment, social interactions, and cultural experiences and redefines how we perceive music, turning this experience into an interactive journey. Metaverse entertainment becomes unique. This is a place where art, music, and interaction blend seamlessly, creating groundbreaking formats. This fusion also creates a strong sense of community, distinguishing metaverse platforms from others. As this cultural phenomenon grows, metaverse platforms transform into a hub for shared experiences and authentic connections. If you think that something virtual is not “real”, it’s time to reconsider it. Conversely, the connections and experiences in virtual spaces can feel just as meaningful as those forged in the physical world. So, the line between digital and physical-life interactions is blurring.
The metaverse isn’t just an escape from reality. This is a dynamic platform for creativity and community that offers its unique way to connect and cooperate with each other. Besides, this is the spot where we celebrate shared interests, listen to music, visit art exhibitions, film festivals, fashion shows and participate in the gaming events.
Holiverse in Action: Is the Metaverse Transforming Society Today?
The metaverse is a dynamic space where creativity, social interaction, and economic opportunity converge like never before. This is a new type of immersive environment where users build, explore, connect, and trade. Holiverse by Lado Okhotnikov, CEO and project founder, exemplifies this vision. The team behind the metaverse works to provide a truly immersive experience to be at the forefront of transformation described in the article. #Holiverse users do not only interact but create and trade in virtual space. It’s a platform that blends gaming, business, and social connection into one seamless ecosystem.
Can we perceive the metaverse as an upgrade of the internet? That would be a mistake. It’s a quantum leap forward that offers a playground for innovation in multiple industries. It unites a thriving marketplace fueling all economic processes and a hub for social interactions, and a transformative force, reshaping how we engage with technology and each other.
How the Metaverse Is Changing the World – and Not Just the Virtual One
The metaverse isn’t just a far-off dream. It’s already altering our world in the ways we’re starting to notice. We are now witnessing a shift in different industries where virtual and physical realities converge. As a result, we observe new experiences, opportunities, and even industries. From education to healthcare, entertainment to business, the metaverse is unlocking possibilities that were once thought impossible. It becomes a fundamental part of how we live, learn, and interact. One day you’ll wake up in a transformed world. But this transformation is already under way.