The Metaverse Isn't Dying - "The Experts" Just Keep Getting It Wrong
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Word around the real world is that visions of the metaverse are fading. But here's where the "The Experts" have it wrong: the metaverse isn't dying; everyone has just been looking in the wrong direction.
That's according to Sami Khan, Co-Founder and CEO of ATLAS: EARTH, a mobile-first gaming experience that allows players to earn real-life cash back on their digital properties – every second of every day.  ATLAS: EARTH is the first game of its kind.
Sami Says, "Bring up the concept of the metaverse in conversation, and what comes to mind is bulky, pricey VR headsets and virtual hangouts that feel like cheesy animated chatrooms. Plus, the promise of an "escape from the real world" feels an awful lot like walking around your living room with a blindfold on. In both reality - and virtual reality - we were promised Holodecks and got handed a discount version of SecondLife.  But the goal of creating a metaverse isn't about generating neon graphics, but rather high-quality digital experiences of all shapes and sizes."
So, what will help ensure that experience is a positive one? Here are three factors tech companies, big and small, should consider:
• Let people use hardware they already own - While over 150 million Americans have smartphones, relatively few Americans have VR headsets. Why would companies restrict their metaverse offerings to users of more obscure hardware? The ultimate reality (pun intended) about the metaverse is that the ease of the user experience will drive its short- and long-term success. An experience that is near at hand, readily accessible, and simple to take with you will lead to faster adoption by regular people, allowing for more innovation down the road.
• Start with the Real World - The best versions of the metaverse will use technology to augment the world we already live in. That's why virtual real estate app ATLAS: EARTH is taking off even as blockchain-based real estate has been crashing since the beginning of the calendar year. People relate to where they work, play, and live. So, players who participate in the virtual world with ties to the real world are more compelled to engage in that virtual reality.
• Meet the user where they are - Companies need to understand what people love most about their "real world" brands and augment those experiences, not just create an experience to drive more revenue and activations.   At ATLAS: EARTH, they are nimble enough to speak to their customers consistently. Tailoring the product to their needs enabled Atlas to garner over a hundred thousand weekly active users while only raising $8 million. Companies must be authentic in their approach and understand their customer's needs and desires.
"All of this continues to demonstrate that people are already eager to enter this virtual universe, but it can only be achieved via meeting them where they are and augmenting their everyday lives. The metaverse isn't dying - it's thriving. You just need to know where to look."
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