What are metaverse games 

The metaverse is a conceptual digital universe where people can interact, socialize, work, shop, and learn in a virtual environment. Unlike the current internet, the metaverse is envisioned as a 3D space accessible through computer screens or AV/VR hardware, providing a more immersive and lifelike experience. In this virtual realm, users navigate as digital representations of themselves known as avatars.

Though the metaverse is currently more of a speculative concept than a tangible reality, it has generated significant interest and hype in the tech world. The idea is to create a seamless, interconnected space where individuals can move between various experiences, carrying their identities and virtual assets with them. The metaverse has the potential to revolutionize how people engage with digital content and each other, offering a more immersive and interconnected online existence.

Metaverse games in practice 

How does this reflect upon metaverse games? In practice, it does not. There has been many talks about true metaverse gaming experience, yet everything went down to reinventing the wheel with always the same play-to-earn models, NFT-assets integration along with various Web3 mechanisms. Speaking of metaverse games in most cases turns out to be a poor glorification effort toward the run-of-the-mill Web3 games. Because metaverse games, in nature, call for much more than that. 

• Interoperable experience: A metaverse game should enable seamless movement between different experiences within the virtual world. Players should be able to transition between various activities, locations, and social interactions without significant barriers.

• Persistent Virtual World: A metaverse game should feature a persistent and shared virtual world where users can interact, socialize, and engage in activities over an extended period. This world should exist and evolve independently of individual player sessions.

• Cross-platform accessibility: Metaverse games are designed to be accessible across various platforms, ensuring that users can engage with the virtual world from different devices, such as computers, consoles, or even virtual reality headsets.

• Immersive technologies: Some metaverse games leverage immersive technologies such as augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR) to enhance the user experience, making the virtual world more immersive and engaging.

Current limitations and future challenges 

As of now, metaverse pursuits face multiple problems ranging from technical insufficiency, logistic demands to legal aspects. Let’s break down barriers the metaverse has to cross in order to enter our reality. 

Network Limitations 

NFT interoperability limitations stem from the fundamental architecture of blockchain technologies, where each blockchain operates its own distinct ledger with unique protocols, standards, and security measures. This inherent design creates several challenges for NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) when it comes to achieving seamless interoperability across different blockchain ecosystems. Here are the key limitations and challenges associated with NFT interoperability:

• Fragmented Ecosystems – Blockchains are developed with specific use cases and technical frameworks in mind, leading to a fragmented ecosystem where assets on one blockchain cannot naturally interact or move to another. For NFTs, this means that an asset minted on Ethereum, for example, cannot be directly used or accessed on BNB Chain or Flow without undergoing a complex bridging process, which is not always straightforward or even possible.

• Technical and Standardization Challenges – There is a lack of universal standards across blockchains for the creation, issuance, and management of NFTs. While Ethereum’s ERC-721 and ERC-1155 have become de facto standards for NFT creation, other blockchains have developed their own standards. This discrepancy complicates the interoperability of NFTs, as each blockchain’s NFT standard has to be individually accounted for when designing interoperability solutions.

• Complexity of Bridging Solutions – To facilitate the movement of NFTs between blockchains, bridging solutions have been developed. However, these solutions often add complexity, requiring users to understand the intricacies of how bridges work, including the risks involved in locking up assets on one chain and minting representative assets on another. This complexity can deter users from engaging with NFTs across multiple blockchains.

• Security Risks – Bridging solutions, while innovative, introduce additional security risks. The process of locking, minting, and then unlocking assets across different blockchains opens up new vectors for attacks, including smart contract vulnerabilities and the potential for manipulation or theft during the transfer process. These security concerns can undermine trust in the interoperability of NFTs.

Hardware limitations

To fully immerse in metaverse gaming, a comprehensive set of hardware is essential to bridge the gap between the physical and virtual worlds. This equipment ranges from headsets that provide visual and auditory stimulation, allowing users to visually and aurally navigate the metaverse, to full-body suits and treadmills that enhance the physical experience by simulating touch and movement. 

Additionally, haptic gloves and wristbands offer tactile feedback, making virtual interactions feel more real. These devices work in tandem to create a deeply immersive gaming experience, enabling players to move, interact, and feel the virtual environment in a way that closely mimics real-life experiences. Just skim through this non-exhaustive list of hardware pieces needed for metaverse gaming:

• Virtual Reality Headsets – Essential for visual and auditory immersion in the metaverse.
• Oculus Quest – A lightweight, standalone VR headset for seamless metaverse navigation.
• Valve Index – Offers high-quality immersive experiences with in-house developed VR technology.
• Augmented Reality Devices – Enhance real-world surroundings with digital overlays for a mixed reality experience.
• MagicLeap – A lightweight, wearable computer that enriches the real-world with digital content.
• VR Glasses – Smart glasses offering AR capabilities and hands-free access to information and augmented reality.

Technologies needed to fully enjoy a potential metaverse gaming immersion calls for tons of high-performance hardware most gamers still don’t have access to. On top of that, VR and AR hardware is still poised as an emerging technology with numerous shortcomings and drawbacks on developers’ side. 

Intellectual Property Challenges

The skepticism towards NFT interoperability stems from the complexities involved in integrating different NFTs across various platforms and games. One key challenge is the technical and logistical hurdles that need to be addressed to ensure seamless interoperability. Achieving widespread interoperability is considered a lofty goal, and there are doubts that it can be achieved in the near future, with some experts even considering it a pipedream.

The current focus is on establishing interoperability within games from the same franchise or developed by the same studio. This more limited scope allows for a controlled environment where technical specifications and standards can be more easily managed. The idea of iconic characters like Mario from one game seamlessly transferring to another, especially across different franchises or studios like in the example of Mario fighting in Counter-Strike or doing magic in League of Legends, is deemed unrealistic at this point. 

On top of the technical demands, the legal side is also something to be considered. Total interoperability would be thus possible either among public domains or within the wide network of cross-IP partnerships – none of which seems real, let alone convenient. 

Metaverse dwells in distant future 

While some projects, such as Racer Club Labs, are exploring creative uses of NFTs within specific ecosystems, the broader adoption of interoperability across the entire NFT space faces significant challenges. The consensus is that achieving widespread NFT interoperability on a larger scale will likely take decades, if it ever becomes a reality.