The metaverse has surpassed 600 million active users worldwide in 2026, according to DemandSage. The market is estimated at around $103.6 billion, driven mainly by gaming, social experiences, and educational applications. Roblox (with over 80 million daily active users) and Fortnite remain the dominant platforms.
The reality of 2026, however, is very different from the promises made by Meta (formerly Facebook) in 2021. Mark Zuckerberg had heavily invested in Horizon Worlds, but the platform did not achieve the hoped-for mass adoption. Meta has refocused its strategy around Quest (VR headsets) and AI, while continuing to invest in mixed reality.
Gaming remains the primary engine of the metaverse. Virtual concerts (Travis Scott on Fortnite attracted 12.3 million simultaneous spectators in 2020), brand events, and immersive experiences attract a young and connected audience. Generation Z and Generation Alpha are the most avid users.
Educational and professional applications are developing. Universities are offering virtual reality courses, and companies are using virtual environments for training and remote collaboration. Microsoft Mesh and Spatial are among the notable players in the professional segment.
Decentralized virtual worlds (Decentraland, The Sandbox) based on NFTs and cryptocurrencies experienced a surge in popularity in 2021-2022 followed by a marked decline. The volume of virtual real estate transactions has significantly decreased, even though these platforms continue to evolve with niche communities.
