The Ace Card For Tech Giants Google, Apple, And Microsoft

Updated November 2026. This was first published on 1 October 2022. The idea is the same. Any number below is what the original piece said then. It is not a new count.

Key takeaways

Meta (META.O), Microsoft (MSFT.O), Google, Apple, and other tech giants have started racing to build the emerging metaverse concept.
In late 2022, these tech giants will have nascent digital worlds that can compete with each other, and for this, they have formed a group to foster the development of industry standards.
From this list, Microsoft, Google, Meta, and Apple are in a heated race targeting large consumer adoption by making VR/AR headsets available at an affordable price.

Meta (META.O), Microsoft (MSFT.O), Google, Apple, and other tech giants have started racing to build the emerging metaverse concept. In late 2022, these tech giants will have nascent digital worlds that can compete with each other, and for this, they have formed a group to foster the development of industry standards.

From this list, Microsoft, Google, Meta, and Apple are in a heated race targeting large consumer adoption by making VR/AR headsets available at an affordable price. Technically, Facebook entered the race a bit early by launching a commercial with comical-looking virtual reality characters and changing to Meta.

Although, the primary battle is not about building new characters but making everyone participate and enjoy the metaverse without using the glasses and other gears. But, there are many other facts as well that will affect the battle too.

Let’s dive deeper and uncover everything you should know about the metaverse and its race.

The Metaverse Since Its Inception #

It all started in 1838 when famous scientist Sir Charles Wheatstone introduced the concept of “binocular vision.” This binocular vision combines two images for each eye to create a single 3D image. From there, the concept inspired the invention of the stereoscope, a device that gives the illusion of depth to an image. The same idea with some minor modifications is now applied to modern VR headsets bringing the virtual experience.

The “Metaverse” refers to a fully immersive internet where we stand as avatars and new digital technologies to access and experience augmented and virtual reality or simply allow us to interact with virtual worlds. Metaverse expanded dramatically since the introduction of binocular vision as the main idea behind this invention.

From a macro perspective, there is a total of three phases in which the evolution of the metaverse typically consists; these are.

Digital Twins #

Digital twins is the first and current phase of the metaverse. It involves the invention of a mirror world of large-scale, accurate digital twins of objects and people in virtual environments to create a digital reproduction of the actual world with a realistic view. The physical counterparts play a crucial role in enhancing the reality properties like emotion and user movement.

Digital Natives #

Digital natives play a crucial role in developing native content, and representing the digital natives is done by avatars that can produce insights and inventions inside virtual spaces. Technically, digital natives can only exist in virtual spaces. In simple terms, the massively produced digital content will be on par with its physical counterparts in this digital phase. But, the digital world can change and advance the physical world’s production process as per their requirement, enhancing the interactions between these two worlds.

Surreality #

The last phase, where the metaverse matures and develops into a self-sufficient virtual reality with durability that can absorb reality into itself, is referred to as surreality. This phase is responsible for developing the virtual world even more than the real world by mutual symbiosis and smooth integrating the physical and virtual worlds. Also, we can see more lives and scenes in virtual realms that do not even exist in reality. This phase defines the future of the metaverse.

Metaverse Today #

Many believe that Meta is owned by Mark Zuckerberg; But, this isn’t true. The metaverse is not restricted to a particular company; it is just like the internet. Audacious entrepreneurs have begun constructing and purchasing real estate in the metaverse. Andrew Kiguel, the CEO of a Canadian company, spent nearly $2.5 million on the virtual estate in Decentraland, a three-dimensional-global outlet. All the transactions done by Decentraland are administered with an Ethereum blockchain token.

The co-founder and COO of the Sandbox company, Sebastien Borget, says metaverse is a virtual realm where partakers can play, construct, acquire, and monetize their digital experience. He believes that the Ethereum-based metaverse is a digital nation. The tech giants provide devices and other equipment for the entire metaverse understanding. Meta’s Quest 2 is amongst the vastly available and affordable virtual reality devices presently accessible at about $300-$400. The cordless equipment is somewhat simple to use.

Among many other reasons, one might encompass all of the skilled game development experts that may be attained in the agreement, enabling Microsoft’s undertakings in existing as a performer in virtual reality.

The US-based company Apple started looking for paths to enter the competition. The company started boosting its augmented reality/virtual reality strategies in the last few years, whereas an AR-based development could be released in 2022.

Envisioning A Multi Trillion-Dollar Economy #

Web3 has multiple definitions, but it’s generally seen as a path to a third generation of the internet. Also, Web3 is that environment where the metaverse, championed by Facebook owner Meta Platforms (FB), will take root. Well, this is one major reason why Facebook changed its name to Meta Platforms in October, as the company wants to set a definition of the metaverse.

According to analysts and experts, very soon, we will make huge investments in Web3 and the metaverse, more than tens of billions of dollars. Also, they believe that the metaverse could become a multi trillion-dollar economy in ten years.

But, not everyone sees the metaverse in the same manner; some see that the next big thing might become the next big flop. means taking millions out of the pockets of unaware consumers.

Allan Cook oversaw virtual and augmented reality consulting at Deloitte and says that every ten to fifteen years, we have a shift in how technology is used, which is necessary. He added, “We are going through another one now, and we’re just beginning to scratch the surface”.

Future of Metaverse #

The current generation of the internet and the leading tech giants will play the most crucial role in the metaverse future because Web 2.0 was overly controlled by big tech companies such as Amazon (AMZN), Apple (AAPL), Google owner Alphabet (GOOGL), and Twitter (TWTR).

The tech giant, Google’s augmented reality devices, internally titled Project Iris, are anticipated to be launched in 2024. Its equipment employs outside confronting cameras to incorporate computer graphics and a video feed of the actual world. It establishes a more mesmerizing, varied reality experience than augmented reality glasses.

The hardware is backed by a personalized Google processor, as if it’s the freshest Google Pixel android phone. But, new employment listings imply that an extraordinary operating system is in the working stage.

Google Glass, the previous incursion into augmented reality, didn’t attain extensive customer attention or adoption. The Verge says that the working on the new program commenced gaining acceleration recently.

Until now, there is no apparent interpreted go-to-market technique. As per The Verge, the tech giant Google maintains the project’s confidential, compelling, unique keycard entry and non-disclosure pacts.

Facebook confirmed that the company might employ about 10,000 employees throughout the globe to create Meta and other similar products.

Investment So Far #

Google #

According to CEO Sundar Puchai, Google is now mapping ways to implement their current services into the virtual world. Also, the company has already invested around $39.5 million into metaverse projects.

No clue required to show the trust Zukerberg has with the metaverse. Meta invested more than $50 million in virtual reality projects and is also ready to wait till 15 years for a massive ROI.

According to some reports, after acquiring Oculus, Meta ramped up on their Metaverse plans and invested around $10 billion in acquiring VR technology and now planning to invest in AR technology to build out their virtual world what it can do.

Microsoft #

Tech giant, Microsoft, hasn’t clued anything officially regarding their total investment in metaverse, but the company made one of the biggest investments into the metaverse- the historical acquisition deal of Activision Blizzard. Microsoft spent a total of $68.7 billion to acquire the Activision Blizzard game studio.

Apple #

It looks like Apple don’t want to reveal any of their deals with metaverse projects or how much they have spent to implement the VR and AR models. Some reports say Apple is planning to invest hugely in metaverse to add some new specifications to their upcoming smartphone series. Although, there’s nothing official from the company’s end.

Other Tech Companies Benefiting from Web3 #

According to analyst experts, some leading companies think they will benefit from the transition to the Web3 metaverse. They include Meta, Google, Snap (SNAP), Apple, Qualcomm (QCOM), Unity Software (U), and Roblox (RBLX).

Moreover, Nvidia (NVDA) is also growing its reach and planning to make a very strong push into the field by targeting the most underrated tech field- business applications. The most highlighted area targeted by big names like Meta and Robox is video games, entertainment, and casual meetups for the metaverse. This is why Microsoft (MSFT) pitched its $69 billion acquisition of the game company.

The rush to invest in metaverse projects by tech giants gives virtual world a real face. It started with a quick scope and now worth billion of dollars, and still counting.

Questions and answers #

What is the main point? #

Meta (META.O), Microsoft (MSFT.O), Google, Apple, and other tech giants have started racing to build the emerging metaverse concept.

What else did the original piece say? #

In late 2022, these tech giants will have nascent digital worlds that can compete with each other, and for this, they have formed a group to foster the development of industry standards.