Digital Public Spaces

While hype about the metaverse as a digital version of the real world seems to have peaked in 2023, the subsequent trend of "quiet metaversing" now seems to be experiencing a reversal. Myriad spaces and activities are now available within the metaverse, including university campuses, baseball games, places of worship, and even civil rights marches. IKEA announced it would be hiring new staff to work in its metaverse store.

Looking forward, companies are touting VR tourism as a sustainable alternative to the real thing, and the metaverse has the potential to drastically change retail shopping. Other online applications are also being used to replace in-person experiences; Zoom had to raise the number of simultaneous viewers it allows to one million to accommodate 2024 election campaign rallies. Planners should consider the implications for physical spaces if virtual activities become broadly adopted and be prepared to plan for a hybrid world.