From Hugo Boss to VRChat, and Holiverse: Key Metaverse Trends That Shaped 2024

In February 2024, Londoners were captivated by an unexpected sight — a 10-meter-high hologram of Gisele Bündchen towering above the skyline near the iconic Tower Bridge. This surreal spectacle was part of Hugo Boss’s bold invitation to step into an immersive and interactive world. Like many brands trying to connect with Gen Z on metaverse platforms like Minecraft, Fortnite, and Holiverse (led by Lado Okhotnikov), Hugo Boss chose to expand into Roblox. 

Fashion brands targeting Gen Z

The London hologram campaign, which began with hyper-augmented reality described above, promoted a new spring-summer 2024 campaign, which seamlessly transitioned to the Roblox metaverse. Hugo Boss launched Hugo Planet, a virtual interactive space in Roblox, designed to captivate Gen Z. There players can style their denim looks and share them within a community. This is not just an experiment for fashion brands, which reimagine their marketing strategies and fully embrace Web3. Some, like Y/Project, had even opted to cancel traditional Paris Fashion Week shows, focusing instead on immersive digital campaigns aimed at Gen Z and Gen Alpha.This campaign exemplifies a broader trend in 2024. The fashion industry is just the beginning. As the metaverse evolves, other industries are also entering virtual space. Metaverse becomes increasingly popular with gaming companies, mass media, music labels, event organizers, film studios, real estate companies, educational institutions, and more. 

A review of the trends for 2024 will help us understand the trajectory of the metaverse. As more brands like Hugo Boss embrace platforms such as Roblox, we can see how metaverse platforms like Meta Horizon Worlds, Holiverse, Decentraland, and the Sandbox continue to evolve in specific areas of virtual space development, and each one shapes the virtual space in a unique way. 

Parallel world

Creating an immersive and engaging metaverse experience is not just about individual technological advancements. Much depends on how these technologies work together. Consistency and synchronization are crucial for the metaverse's success. Its environment should remain active and operational at all times, not only at times when users interact with the metaverse. This way, it becomes a parallel persistent world, which always exists, regardless of a user's presence. Immersion is of primary importance. Even minor technical glitches or lags can break the sense of presence, disrupt the experience and undermine the project's credibility. 

Generative AI 

This technology is necessary for rapid creation of complex virtual environments. This is a key enabler of creativity and immersion in the metaverse. It would be difficult and time-consuming to create this complex, dynamic content alone. 

Take Meta Horizon Worlds, for instance, where the technology works behind the scenes. It's crafting dynamic and immersive environments, creating lifelike NPC behavior and improving social interaction. Thus, user experience becomes a seamless, engaging journey as they explore virtual spaces, even when they mingle with avatars. 

Other applications of AI

A different approach was chosen by Decentraland, which uses AI to personalize user experience. It suggests activities, spaces, and virtual goods that align with users' behaviors. Like your personal assistant, AI knows what you need. It makes the experience more enjoyable and memorable. 

Then there's Roblox with their own vision. The platform uses advanced technologies for safety and moderation. AI models filter content. Since Roblox is primarily used by children, many of whom are under 13, this is the best application possible. It protects them from inappropriate content, creating a safe environment..

Full-body motion tracking technology

In 2024, considerable progress was achieved in full-body motion tracking technology. A more accurate representation of users’ movements makes the metaverse even more immersive and thrilling! With virtual avatars the world looks more realistic. It contributes to a sense of presence in the metaverse. VR metaverse spaces such as VRChat support full-body motion tracking technology, so users can explore immersive experiences on various platforms equipped with this feature.

Other trends contribute to the application of full-body tracking technology:

Wearables and sensor technology. Smart suits, gloves, motion-capture devices, etc.

Gaming and esports growth. Advanced motion tracking is incorporated on some gaming platforms.

Digital twins and virtual avatars. Simulations of the real world allow for more lifelike avatars. The technology is also crucial for healthcare, real estate and education.

Hardware providers also continue improving virtual headsets. They aim to present the devices that offer better graphics, mobility and wider fields of view. Meta, for example, is shifting its focus toward developing virtual glasses to enhance user engagement. The challenges currently include facial expression tracking and introduction of natural gestures that can significantly improve interaction. These areas require further innovation. 

Enhanced social interaction 

Improved immersive experience redefines online connectivity and elevates the quality of social interaction. It affected the sphere of gaming as well, which is more social-oriented now. Social interaction became a core element of the gaming world. The competitive play has transformed into interactive space where players primarily communicate and collaborate. 

Immersive gaming experience 

The sphere has rapidly evolved with advancements in Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR) and AI, which suggests adaptive game mechanics or dynamic environmental features. Users can forget about static, pre-programmed content. AI gives creators endless possibilities to enhance their creations. These technologies are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in interactive experiences. It makes each game feel fresh and innovative.

Play-to-earn (P2E): Earning in Holiverse, Decentraland, the Sandbox

P2E games introduced new financial models, reshaping the gaming industry. The gaming platforms are rewarding their players with tokens, in-game assets, NFTs, allowing them to participate in virtual worlds. Players received the opportunity to monetize their virtual experiences and enjoy the gameplay simultaneously.

These games are often integrated into larger metaverse ecosystems, like on Holiverse, supported by Holichain, allowing players to earn real money. Similarly, platforms like Decentraland and The Sandbox exemplify this trend by enabling players to profit through virtual land ownership and the sale of digital goods.

Virtual office spaces: A new era of collaboration

The rise of virtual office spaces is reshaping how companies collaborate. Immersive technologies allow the companies to easily transcend physical boundaries hiring the best specialists from around the world.

Meta Horizon Workrooms allows users to share documents and arrange brainstorming sessions, while Microsoft Mesh enables custom 3D immersive spaces for meetings and brainstorming. Businesses can design digital twins of their physical offices where avatars represent employees.

As we move forward, it’s clear that the metaverse is not a static entity but a dynamic, ever-evolving ecosystem. It’s destined for further development. Favorable conditions are now in place for its growth. Just look at the progress of generative AI, full-body tracking and other technologies defining the current landscape. This is only a fraction of what’s on the horizon. The future of the metaverse is incredibly exciting, and its trends are only just beginning to unfold.