When will the metaverse come out?

The metaverse already exists in theory and in many practical ways, but expect the technology to explode over the next five to ten years, predicts Madsen. Wearables, like VR headsets, will become comfortable, portable and more powerful. Software will become more realistic, heading toward “fully immersive” experiences.

This technology will have huge impacts on how people work (physical proximity will be a much smaller priority, but people may be required to be on the clock, around the clock), how people play (games won’t be limited by physical constraints like gravity), how people socialize (being present as a hologram at a birthday party would be much better than a video chat) and, most important, how we consume information. If we live in a “post-truth” society now, imagine what it will be like when lies are even more realistic and believable and deepfakes aren’t just 2D.