Microsoft joins the game: What's all the hype about the Metaverse?

Microsoft cited the metaverse as a reason for buying Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion. Let's break down what that really means

The term “metaverse” is everywhere. 

On Tuesday, Microsoft cited the so-called metaverse as a reason for acquiring the game developer Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion, saying the deal would provide “building blocks for the metaverse.” Facebook’s founder, Mark Zuckerberg, has also bet on the metaverse and renamed his social networking company Meta. Google has worked on metaverse-related technology for years. And Apple has its own related devices in the works. 

But what does the metaverse really mean, and does it even exist? Here’s what you need to know. 

What is the metaverse, anyway? 

The metaverse is the convergence of two