History of Metaverse in Timeline

The metaverse is a virtual realm where users, represented by avatars, engage and interact. Typically presented in 3D, its core emphasis lies in facilitating social and economic connections among its participants. This immersive digital environment aims to replicate aspects of the real world, enabling users to socialize, collaborate, create, and transact within the virtual space.

1992: Stephenson coins the term Metaverse

In 1992, Neal Stephenson coined the term metaverse in his science fiction novel Snow Crash. The metaverse depicts a three-dimensional virtual space where humans, represented by avatars, interact with each other and software agents, mirroring the real world and serving as a virtual-reality-based successor to the internet.

1992: Term Metaverse Originated in Snow Crash

In 1992, the term "metaverse" originated in Neal Stephenson's science fiction novel Snow Crash, a portmanteau of "meta" and "universe." The novel envisioned the metaverse as a single, universal, and immersive virtual world, accessed via VR and AR headsets.

2003: Second Life as the First Metaverse

In 2003, the virtual world platform Second Life was launched and is often described as the first metaverse. It incorporated social media aspects into a persistent 3D world where users were represented by avatars.

2011: Ready Player One Novel Released

In 2011, the first novel in the Ready Player One franchise by Ernest Cline was released, depicting a shared VR landscape called 'The OASIS'.

2017: Microsoft Acquires AltspaceVR

In 2017, Microsoft acquired AltspaceVR, a virtual reality company, and integrated virtual avatars and VR meetings into Microsoft Teams.

2018: Ready Player One Film Adaptation Released

In 2018, the film adaptation of Ready Player One was released.

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2019: Facebook Launches Facebook Horizon

In 2019, Facebook launched a social VR world called Facebook Horizon.

2020: Second Ready Player One Novel Released

In 2020, the second novel in the Ready Player One franchise was released.

December 2021: Intel Claims Need for 1,000x Computational Efficiency

In December 2021, Raja Koduri of Intel claimed that achieving truly persistent and immersive computing, accessible to billions in real-time, would require a 1,000-times increase in computational efficiency compared to the current state of the art.

2021: Facebook Renames to Meta and Focuses on Metaverse

In 2021, Facebook was renamed Meta Platforms, with Mark Zuckerberg announcing the company's commitment to developing a metaverse. However, Frances Haugen criticized the move, citing concerns about platform safety. In 2021, Meta also experienced losses of over $10 billion in its metaverse development department.

2021: NVIDIA Adopts USD for Metaverse Tools

In 2021, NVIDIA announced it would adopt Universal Scene Description (USD), a specification for 3D computer graphics interchange created by Pixar, for its metaverse development tools.

2021: Privacy Concerns in the Metaverse

In 2021, concerns about information privacy in the metaverse arose due to the potential for extensive data collection through interactions and biometric data. Meta Platforms' plans for targeted advertising also raised worries about misinformation and privacy loss. David Reid argued that data collection in the metaverse would surpass that on the internet. Abdulsattar Jaber highlighted potential security and privacy issues with new metaverse technologies.

January 2022: Philip Rosedale describes the Metaverse

In January 2022, Second Life creator Philip Rosedale described the metaverse as a three-dimensional Internet populated by live people. He highlighted the integral role of social interaction and 3D virtual worlds in massively multiplayer online games.

February 2022: Virtual Crimes in VR Platforms

In February 2022, investigations by BBC News and The Washington Post revealed that virtual crimes, such as sex abuse, child grooming, and harassment, are significant challenges in VR platforms like VRChat and Horizon Worlds, with minors engaging in adult activities despite age restrictions.

February 2022: The New York Times on Stalled Metaverse Scale

In a February 2022 article for The New York Times, Lauren Jackson argued that the metaverse is "stalled from achieving scale by a lack of infrastructure for both hardware and software, a monopolistic approach to platform development, and a lack of clear governance standards."

August 2022: glTF 2.0 Released as International Standard

In August 2022, glTF 2.0, a specification for efficient transmission of 3D scenes and models, was released as the ISO/IEC 12113:2022 International Standard.

October 2022: Challenges of Moderating 3D Environments

In an October 2022 interview, Roblox Chief Scientist Morgan McGuire acknowledged the challenges of moderating 3D environments, comparing moderating Roblox to shutting down speakeasies.

October 26, 2022: NYT Reports Zuckerberg's Struggle with Metaverse

On October 26, 2022, Ryan Mac, a technology reporter for The New York Times, reported that Mark Zuckerberg has struggled for the past year to find the best way to achieve the metaverse, yet to succeed.

2022: Limitations of VR Technology Hamper Metaverse Adoption

As of 2022, metaverse development and adoption has been limited by dependence on VR technology. Issues include limitations of portable hardware, the need to balance cost and design leading to lower graphics quality, and the high cost of consumer VR headsets, ranging from $300 to $3500.

2022: Meta's Metaverse Development Losses

In 2022, Meta Platforms' metaverse development department experienced losses. Mark Zuckerberg anticipated that operating losses would increase significantly.

February 2023: Meta Pivots from Metaverse to AI

In February 2023, Mark Zuckerberg announced Meta's shift away from the metaverse to prioritize AI development.

March 2023: Microsoft Shut-down AltspaceVR

In March 2023, Microsoft shut down AltspaceVR.

2023: Metaverse Deemed a Fad

As of 2023, there has been limited adoption of metaverse technology. Decentraland reported low daily user counts. Ed Zitron in Business Insider and Marc Olinga in The Street declared the metaverse a 'dead' fad, replaced by AI as the current trend.

2045: Ready Player One depicts a World in Crisis

Ready Player One depicts the year 2045 gripped by an energy crisis and global warming, causing social and economic problems. The OASIS provides an escape.