Metaverse Research: A 15-year Review and Research Prospectus

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Abstract
Fifteen years ago, Davis et al. (2009) defined and described the metaverse’s capabilities and presented a foundation for research in this environment. Since then, particularly in the past few years, researchers have paid considerable attention to metaverses in both research and practice. This growth in attention suggests it is time to assess what we learned about metaverses and explore future opportunities. Therefore, in this paper, we review what we learned over the past 15 years related to metaverse research and present important possibilities and opportunities for future research. We summarize foundational research findings in relation to the metaverse, people/avatars, metaverse technology capabilities, behaviors, and virtual world outcomes. Additionally, we present research opportunities in metaverse education, development, lifestyle, work and job design, and gaming—all areas where metaverse technology innovation and application have received attention since Davis et al. (2009). The research opportunities that we outline illustrate how the metaverse continues to present rich possibilities and promise for the future.

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