Metaverse Evolution: Learning from Meta's Missteps

The concept of the metaverse has captured the imagination of many, offering a digital realm where people can connect, explore, and create.

However, Big Tech giant Meta's approach to the metaverse initially caused more harm than good, leading to a negative perception of this promising concept. 

In contrast, Yuga Labs CEO Daniel Alegre believes that despite Meta's missteps, the metaverse is steadily progressing in a positive direction. 

This article delves into Alegre's perspective, highlighting the evolution of the metaverse and the lessons to be learned from Meta's experience.

Meta's Metaverse Misstep

Meta, formerly known as Facebook, introduced its vision of the metaverse with Horizon Worlds, but it faced a significant hurdle - a low user base.

Alegre points out that Meta's attempt to brand the metaverse as something entirely new overlooked the fact that other metaverse platforms, such as World of Warcraft and Fortnite, were already in existence. 

This misstep led to a less-than-ideal user experience in Horizon Worlds, highlighting the importance of understanding and respecting existing metaverse ecosystems.

In contrast to Meta's challenges, Yuga Labs has been working on their Otherside metaverse since early 2022.

Unlike Horizon Worlds, Otherside emerged from a genuine need expressed by their community of non-fungible token (NFT) holders. 

Alegre emphasizes that Otherside serves as a digital space for their community to come together and connect.

This highlights the importance of building platforms based on real user needs and desires, rather than imposing a vision from the top down.

Sandbox: Cultivating Online Culture

Yuga Labs is not alone in its pursuit of a vibrant metaverse.

The Sandbox, a peer platform, is also working to bring culture online.

Sebastien Borget, co-founder of The Sandbox, envisions neighbourhoods within their platform that mirror real-world countries.

This approach demonstrates the potential for the Sandbox metaverse to reflect and enrich cultural experiences, offering users a familiar and engaging environment.

NFTs: Art, History, and Community

Alegre observes a notable shift in how Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) are valued.

Some see them as valuable for their artistic and historical significance, while others place equal value on the sense of community and intellectual property rights they represent. 

Alegre draws a comparison between CryptoPunks and Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC), both owned by Yuga Labs. 

CryptoPunks are finding their way into top museums and private collections, while BAYC holders have formed a thriving community, even building businesses around their unique NFTs.

Empowering the Community: Lessons from NFTs

The success of the Bored Ape community showcases the power of NFT ownership when placed in the hands of a passionate community.

Alegre draws parallels to YouTube's user-generated content model, which enabled businesses to flourish around the platform. 

This highlights the incredible potential of NFTs to inspire creativity and innovation, both online and offline.