What Hardware Do You Need to Enter the Metaverse?

One of the most crucial pieces of kit a user needs to enter the metaverse is a top-of-the-range VR (Virtual Reality) headset. The question being asked here is, what hardware do you need to enter the metaverse, so we will be taking a quick look at eight highly recommended headsets to get you started.

We will also explain in simple terms what the metaverse is, as well as reveal some of today's best metaverse platforms that you may want to check out after investing in an innovative device that enables you to enter the metaverse.

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What is the metaverse in a nutshell?

The best way to describe the metaverse is that it's a fictional universe. The word metaverse can also be used to describe the internet as an immersive universal virtual world that can be accessed by using Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (MR) hardware, such as glasses or a headset.

It's a network of 3D virtual worlds that mimics the physical world, and it's being hailed by many in the computing and technology industries as the next iteration of the internet.

The immersive online virtual world enables people from around the world to interact with each other in a 3D virtual space using their VR/AR-enabled wearable technology.

In other words, thanks to the metaverse, people can now visually immerse themselves in some of their favourite video games in ways they never could. You could also call it VR gaming, but being in the metaverse doesn't necessarily mean playing games.

Users can walk around in the metaverse and do more than just play games. You can enter the metaverse from almost any location on the planet and explore it in real-time, provided your device has a stable Wi-Fi/internet connection.

Although you cannot smell or touch things, some wearable technology is currently in the early development stages, enabling the wearer to experience touch and smell to add to an even more immersive experience.

Anyone that enters the digital metaverse is depicted as a virtual avatar representation. You can often hear their voice when chatting with other people, depending on which device they are using and whether it has a microphone.

Alternatively, players can interact and communicate with each other via a live chat feed. The main purpose of the metaverse is social and economic connection. The buzzword term 'Metaverse' actually means 'beyond the universe.'

People can also transact with real money in the form of digital currency by buying and selling digital items, goods, and services. The currency often used in the metaverse is cryptocurrency or NFTs.

The exact type of cryptocurrency you can use to buy and sell or send to other people depends on which metaverse platform you are currently in. Examples include Bitcoin, Ethereum, DogeCoin, Tether, Ripple, and Stellar. There are over 20,000 cryptocurrencies.

There isn't one singular metaverse. Instead, this is just a term used to describe the virtual interactions mentioned above. The main difference between the internet and the metaverse is that the metaverse is something one can experience, whereas the internet can only be browsed.

Can I walk into a casino in the metaverse?

Yes and no. You can find a couple of virtual reality games, but they are no way near as sophisticated as today's best live dealer online casinos that you can access from any modern smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer.

Also, the games are usually not available to play in the real money mode. You only get to play using a fun balance. Examples of VR casino games include Social Club VR, PokerStars VR, Bullet Roulette VR, Blackjack VR by Playspace, VR Slots 3D and Blackjack VR Playspace.

The official JohnSlots, top slots comparison site, has a complete list of fully licensed online casino websites where you can play over 1,000 games for real money. However, you must be at least 18 years old to play at these sites.

What are the most popular metaverse platforms in 2023?

Here are the ten most famous Metaverse platforms in the world that some of you may already be familiar with by now. They include the following:

1. Fortnite
2. Sandbox
3. Meta Horizon Worlds and Horizon Workrooms
4. Metahero
5. Second Life
6. Roblox
7. Somnium Space
8. Altspace VR
9. Gather
10. Nvidia Omniverse

Other metaverse platforms worth checking out include Room, Cryptovoxels, BlueJeans, Stageverse, Decentraland, and World of Warcraft.

What else can I do with VR headsets apart from just wandering around or playing games?

Not all of these metaverse platforms are about playing games and wandering around aimlessly in 3D virtual worlds. In fact, you can do many other things in the metaverse. It all depends on which platform you enter.

For example, watching your favourite movies, television shows, and videos on several major streaming apps, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and YouTube, is also now possible. You may also like to watch one of the world's major sporting events using your wearable VR/AR devices.

You can even create your own virtual worlds or build on existing worlds, like virtual living rooms, and then hang out with your friends, colleagues or relatives. In some metaverse platforms, having a cookout with other people in a virtual kitchen is possible.

For those of you with a more adventurous side, you can trek through some visually stunning 3D-rendered landscapes that have been specifically developed for the metaverse or visit places that exist on planet Earth, such as the Great Wall of China, or the Pyramids of Egypt in Giza, all from the comfort of your own home.

There is even a VR game that enables you to take a front-row seat and experience being a part of NASA's original Apollo space mission. Alternatively, you may want to relax and chill by taking in some guided meditation virtual experiences.

There are also some VR fitness apps where you can improve your health and fitness levels. You can also go shopping, attend art galleries, and so much more. It's also possible to attend VR concerts hosted by some of today's major music artists.

Some of the most notable artists that have already hosted converts in the metaverse are The Foo Fighters, South By Southwest (where they called themselves Block By Blockwest), Ariana Grande, and Travis Scott. Others include Justin Bieber, David Guetta, Lil Nas, and Soccer Mommy, to name a few.

What are the best VR headsets to enter the metaverse?

If you are keen to explore any metaverse platform to see what all the fuss is about, you will need to invest in a decent piece of hardware. There are many to choose from, but instead of listing them all, here are just seven highly recommended wearable VR devices you may want to consider looking into before buying any others.

Examples include the following state-of-the-art devices:

1. Sony PlayStation VR
2. Oculus Quest 2
3. HP Reverb G2
4. HoloLens 2
5. Magic Leap 1
6. Lenovo Think Reality A3
7. Valve Index

You can also have several other VR headsets or glasses to choose from, some of which can be hooked up to your smartphone. Examples include the Samsung HMD Odyssey Headset, MERGE VR Goggles, Samsung Gear VR, Oculus GO, and Oculus Rift S.

What are the best games to play from today's most advanced wearable VR headsets and glasses?

Over the past few years, several ground-breaking games have been developed for VR headsets. Some of the most famous games you may want to check out first are Resident Evil Village VR, Minecraft VR, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, Skyrim VR, Boneworks, No Man's Sky VR Beat Saber, Pistol Whip, and Half-Life: Alyx.

If that's not enough to keep you going, try War Thunder, Ghost Giant, Moss, Phasmophobia, I Expect You to Die, Blade & Sorcery, Lone Echo, VRChat, Robot Recall, and Elite: Dangerous, to name a few.

Some of these games have a PEGI 18 age rating, so always check if you are the correct age to play some of these games before loading them up.

Others you may like to check out include Vacation Simulator, Subnautica, Everybody's Gold VR, Trover Saves the Universe, Tetris Effect, The Last Clockwinder, Project Cars 2, Tetris Effect, and The Talos Principle.

What to look forward to with VR technology

The metaverse and VR games are both constantly evolving, so there's plenty to look forward to over the coming years. However, it's still difficult to say exactly what will happen and how it will progress.

The wearable technology that we use to access the metaverse will dramatically evolve. Even more people will no doubt want to immerse themselves in the metaverse, and improved hyper-realistic digital/virtual worlds will be crafted.

We will see 5G becoming more prevalent, improved cloud computing capabilities, digital twin technology, and the next generation of data engineering.

We will also see dramatic improvements in synthetic media, advanced haptics and robotics, and more. It's exciting times, and who really knows what the future may hold?

Many of today's major tech companies have been investing heavily in wearable VR technology and the metaverse, so there will be plenty to look forward to.

Kareem Winters

Update 22 May 2023