Extended reality (XR) technologies promise new ways of working, learning, and socializing in immersive environments. Yet this future raises critical questions about who will benefit and who may be left behind. This chapter examines the assumption that expanding access to XR is inherently beneficial, using the digital divide as a framework to interrogate this belief. Although immersive technologies offer transformative potential across education, healthcare, and the workplace, their positive impact depends on more than access alone. To address this gap, the chapter introduces the concept of “immersive readiness” – a multidimensional construct encompassing motivational, skill-based, and contextual capacities required for meaningful and beneficial XR use. This chapter argues that insufficient attention to immersive readiness risks deepening existing social inequalities, producing what we term “immersive inequality” – defined as the unequal distribution of immersive readiness necessary to benefit from XR. The chapter outlines a central tension between accelerating XR adoption and ensuring that such adoption is safe, effective, and empowering. Through this lens, it chapter highlights the societal risks of deploying XR without adequate preparation and considers implications for key sectors. By reframing inclusion around immersive readiness, the chapter proposes a pathway toward an equitable XR future that democratizes experiences rather than widening digital divides.