Hyper realistic designs are taking over metaspaces as digital experiences more closely replicate physical environments. Brands are embracing realistic aesthetics in their platforms, designs, and spaces, even when the elements they’re portraying aren’t physically possible.

According to Vogue, fashion in the metaverse is craving realism right now. A new app, called Idoru, is offering users a platform for realistic virtual fashion and avatars where they can fully embrace their digital fashion and digital identities with updated creation tools and customized visuals. Users on the app have access to virtual fashion from top designers and recent collections, generated with detail-oriented technology and physical world-like aesthetics.

Digital image doubled, top and bottom. Top image of a brick castle gate with three unicorn-printed banners over a brick and carpet-covered walkway, lined by trees and greenery. Bottom: the same image with more defined lines and realistic fire depictions.
Top: Before, bottom: after Roblox Materials enhancements. Winds of Fortune by Sonar Studios, courtesy of Roblox.

Roblox released a new tool to elevate the realism of its virtual worlds in May. Called Materials, the updated function allows everyday users to upload, create, and customize their own blocks and textures, giving them the heightened control over the appearance of their worlds and creations that developers traditionally have. Alex Balfanz, a creator of the Roblox experience Jailbreak, said that “for a lot of players, I think it’s going to open up a lot of freedom of features and interactions between physics.”

Victoria VR, launched in 2022, created a hyper realistic metaverse built on Unreal Engine. Utilizing updated gaming technology and visuals, the virtual platform effectively blends the physical and digital worlds in a decentralized organization (DAO) – meaning it’s created and owned by its users. The realm is made up of ultra-realistic elements, lifelike effects and landscapes that meet and surpass physical limitations and expectations. In a report released by the company, the platform deems itself “the World’s first realistic Metaverse in VR built on the Blockchain.”

For those interested in purchasing land, building homes, and truly integrating their physical lifestyles into the digital realm, Everdome is the hyper realistic metaverse space to turn to. Mirroring real life assets, industries, and landscapes, the platform opened sales of its six districts in May: Sports and Entertainment, finance, innovation, well-being, design, and business. Hosted on Unreal Engine 5, Everdome’s mission is to create “a fully ubiquitous web3 experience - to the point when you take off your VR headset you won’t be able to tell what’s real and what’s not,” according to their website.

A digitally rendered avatar of a man with glasses, light skin and gray hair wearing a black leather jacket, black jeans and black sneakers. Avatar stands amongst toys on a wooden desk: a spinning top, a dinosaur, dice, jacks, a car.
Toy Jensen Omniverse Avatar, courtesy of Nvidia

In August, the Nvidia Omniverse announced that it plans to launch new tools for a more realistic metaverse. Using AI-powered tools, the update will enhance the ability for artists, developers, and creators to build seamless virtual worlds with ease. The technology is reportedly also being used by architectural and product design companies for building digital twins and visual effects. Bloomberg highlighted “reality” trademark filings for Apple’s mixed reality headset late this summer. Filings for three operating systems - “Reality One,” “Reality Pro,” and “Reality Processor” – indicate a possible range in specs and visual capabilities across the product line when it releases.

A new realm of creativity is opening up in the metaverse, where realistic designs make impossible elements even more engaging. As the metaverse evolves, a more realistic aesthetic is emerging—one that further blurs the distinction between physical and virtual environments.

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