Metaverse may reach $615bn by 2030, Bloomberg report says

A new report from Bloomberg Intelligence (BI) has found that a slowdown in consumer spending and a lack of standards may remain a drag on virtual and augmented reality adoption, but Apple's likely entry into the market with a new headset could be a catalyst for faster growth in the metaverse, which may reach $615 billion by 2030. Advances will likely be driven by virtual 3D for shopping, events, social media and other consumer apps.

Mandeep Singh, BI Senior Industry Analyst (Technology), commented: “Metaverse offerings that leverage virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) devices for immersive 3D experiences beyond gaming -- in areas such as e-commerce, concerts and education -- have the potential to drive $615 billion in spending by 2030, our analysis suggests. VR/AR hardware and token- and ad-based revenue will be critical on the consumer side, while public-cloud infrastructure and VR/AR enterprise software and design will be key to laying the foundation for experiences.

“Apple's entry into this space with a new mixed-reality headset, which could take place in 1H, remains crucial to mainstream adoption,” adds Singh. “Industry revenue from the technology's use for entertainment may be delayed until the VR/AR user base is at least 50-100 million.”

AR/VR unit growth pressured in the near term

Slowing unit growth for AR/VR hardware may remain a challenge for the metaverse in the near term amid a pullback in discretionary consumer spending. At the current price point, VR-headset adoption could stay muted with limitations in application as well as use for multiple hours. Innovation will be key to gaining market share, and IDC projects AR/VR spending will climb to over $40 billion by 2030, up from around US$4.3bn in 2022. Companies like Meta Platforms are likely to pare back their operating and capital spending amid pressure to boost profitability, which could be a drag on the metaverse's pace of development.

Brand partnerships and events pave monetisation path

Metaverse offerings could continue expanding beyond gaming with new partnerships, creating new opportunities for shopping, concerts and other virtual events, Bloomberg predicts. Platforms like Roblox and Decentraland already have deals with Gucci, Nike and Coca-Cola, among others, creating unique experiences for users to see the brand through a different lens. The sale of high-end luxury items in the metaverse demonstrates the potential for monetization.

Live events also show promise, with platforms like Fortnite hosting concerts for artists such as Ariana Grande, Travis Scott and others. These performances attract millions of users with the lure of experiences that defy the limitations of the physical world. The report predicts that metaverse platforms will boost the pace of partnerships to draw in more to their installed base.

Generative AI can enhance user experience

Generative AI and GPT could revolutionise metaverse engagement by offering users convincingly human interactions in a virtual landscape. GPT's ability to leverage large language models is an enhancement that can provide distinct responses to text, voice and gestures. Bloomberg's report suggests platforms like Meta's Horizon World or Roblox may shift to GPT to augment and expand into new areas like education. GPT could also improve how users work virtually. Consumer applications have seen better adoption early vs commercial. GPT might boost enterprise use by improving the way employees work.