Redefining the Metaverse Industry in 2026: A New Paradigm of Spatial Computing and Mixed Reality
Editor
From Metaverse to Spatial Computing: A Paradigm Shift in the Industry
As of early 2026, the metaverse industry is at a fundamental turning point. Moving past the hype of 2021-2022, the industry is now concentrating on creating tangible value and building profitable business models. According to the latest report by market research firm Gartner, the global metaverse market size is expected to grow from $407 billion in 2025 to $1.542 trillion by 2030, although the growth trajectory is diverging from initial expectations. Rather than consumer-centric virtual world platforms, enterprise spatial computing solutions and industry-specific mixed reality applications are driving substantial growth.
Meta Platforms, headquartered in Menlo Park, California, announced in its Q4 2025 earnings report that losses in its Reality Labs division decreased by 15% year-over-year to $3.2 billion. While still significant, this is an improvement from the same period in 2024. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently stated in an investor call, “We are focusing more on spatial computing than the term ‘metaverse,’ prioritizing the development of applications that create real business value.” This strategic shift reflects a broader industry trend where companies are emphasizing practical solutions over grand visions.
Apple’s launch of the Vision Pro headset is considered a symbolic example of this industry transition. Since its release in February 2024, an estimated 500,000 units have been sold, receiving positive feedback from professionals and enterprise users despite its high price of $3,499. The headset is particularly gaining traction in architecture, healthcare, and education sectors, and Apple plans to expand the market with a lower-cost model slated for release in the second half of 2026. Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, headquartered in Cupertino, recently shared in a CNBC interview, “Spatial computing will be the next-generation computing platform after personal computers and smartphones,” outlining a long-term vision.
Enterprise Applications Driving Substantial Growth
As of 2026, the primary growth driver for metaverse-related technologies is emerging from the B2B market. Microsoft’s enterprise solutions utilizing HoloLens and the Mesh platform are generating tangible ROI and leading the market. Microsoft, based in Redmond, Washington, reported that its mixed reality-related revenue increased by 78% year-over-year to $2.4 billion in the 2025 fiscal year. This growth is attributed to the increased adoption of remote collaboration, training, and maintenance solutions by manufacturers.
German automaker BMW has implemented a system using Microsoft Mesh that allows engineers across 31 global plants to collaborate in real-time within a virtual environment. This has reportedly reduced physical prototype production costs by 30% and shortened development time by an average of four months in the new car development process. Marco Schneider, BMW’s Vice President of Digital Innovation, stated, “Through mixed reality technology, we have fundamentally changed the way global teams collaborate.” Such success stories are attracting interest from other manufacturers, with major companies like Ford, Siemens, and Boeing adopting similar solutions throughout 2025.
The use of mixed reality technology is also rapidly expanding in the medical field. Johns Hopkins School of Medicine has been operating a surgical training program using Microsoft HoloLens 2 since 2024, reporting a 40% improvement in learning outcomes compared to traditional methods. Additionally, Cleveland Clinic has achieved a 15% increase in success rates and an average reduction of 20 minutes in surgery times for complex heart surgeries by utilizing 3D holograms. These successes in the medical field contributed to the AR/VR market for medical applications reaching $6.7 billion in 2025, a 45% increase from the previous year.
The growth of the enterprise metaverse market is also providing new opportunities for related hardware and software companies. Nvidia, headquartered in San Jose, California, has established a strong presence in the enterprise 3D collaboration solutions market through its Omniverse platform. Nvidia’s Omniverse-related revenue in Q4 2025 increased by 120% year-over-year to $800 million, with over 1,500 companies currently utilizing the platform. Jensen Huang, Nvidia CEO, emphasized in the recent GTC 2026 keynote, “Digital twins and 3D simulations are becoming the standard across all industries, and Omniverse is playing a key role in this transformation.”
Korean companies are also expanding their investments in metaverse technology in line with these global trends. Samsung Electronics announced a partnership with Google and Qualcomm in December 2025 to develop next-generation VR headsets, targeting a release in the second half of 2026. Han Jong-hee, Vice Chairman of Samsung Electronics, headquartered in Suwon, stated, “We aim to provide innovative spatial computing solutions for both consumers and enterprises.” Additionally, LG Electronics is heavily investing in wearable display technology, with its lightweight AR glasses prototype unveiled at CES 2025 garnering industry attention.
While challenges remain in the consumer market, gradual growth is observed in gaming and entertainment sectors. Sony, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, announced that PlayStation VR2 sales reached 2.4 million units in 2025, a 30% increase compared to its predecessor, PSVR, indicating continued demand for high-quality VR content. Exclusive titles like ‘Horizon Call of the Mountain’ and ‘Gran Turismo 7 VR Mode’ have driven hardware sales. Jim Ryan, CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, expressed a cautious stance, stating, “VR is the future of gaming, but widespread adoption still requires time.”
Cloud computing services supporting metaverse infrastructure are also experiencing rapid growth. Amazon Web Services (AWS) reported $4.5 billion in revenue from metaverse-related cloud services in 2025, accounting for approximately 6% of total AWS revenue. There is a surge in demand for high-performance computing services for real-time 3D rendering and multi-user synchronization. Google Cloud is also actively entering this market through its Immersive Stream for XR services, with related revenue increasing by 85% year-over-year to $2.8 billion in 2025.
From an investment perspective, global venture investment in metaverse-related areas totaled $12.7 billion in 2025, a 23% increase from the previous year. However, there is a clear shift in investment patterns. Investment in consumer-centric virtual world platforms has decreased, while investment in B2B solutions and infrastructure technologies has significantly increased. There is particularly active investment in AI-based 3D content generation, real-time rendering optimization, and haptic feedback technology. Chris Dixon, a partner at venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, analyzed, “The true value of the metaverse lies in improving existing workflows through new forms of human-computer interaction.”
The regulatory environment is also significantly impacting the development of the metaverse industry. The European Union announced metaverse-related provisions of the ‘Digital Services Act’ in December 2025, providing specific guidelines on privacy protection, content moderation, and minor protection in virtual environments. In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is intensifying investigations into competition policies and data collection on metaverse platforms, influencing corporate strategy formulation. South Korea is also preparing metaverse ethics guidelines centered on the Korea Communications Commission, with the final draft expected in the first half of 2026.
On the technical side, the expansion of 5G networks and the development of 6G technology are enhancing the quality of metaverse experiences. Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chipset offers 2.5 times improved graphics performance and 50% better power efficiency compared to its predecessor, directly contributing to the performance enhancement of next-generation VR/AR devices. Cristiano Amon, CEO of Qualcomm, headquartered in San Diego, California, announced, “We plan to release XR chipsets with 10 times the current performance by 2027.” These hardware performance improvements are expected to enable more immersive metaverse experiences and lower the technical barriers to entry for the mass market.
Efforts to standardize the industry are also accelerating. The Metaverse Standards Forum has secured over 2,300 member companies by the end of 2025 and is actively developing interoperability standards. The focus is on developing protocols for the cross-platform movement of avatars, digital assets, and spatial data. These standardization efforts are expected to address the fragmentation of the metaverse ecosystem and reduce platform dependency for users and companies.
In the Chinese market, ByteDance’s Pico and Tencent’s metaverse platforms are building independent ecosystems and growing. Their use is particularly prominent in education and corporate training, with the Chinese metaverse market size reaching 68 billion yuan (approximately $9.4 billion) in 2025, a 42% increase from the previous year. This growth is expected to continue in line with the Chinese government’s digital economy promotion policies.
Overall, as of early 2026, the metaverse industry has entered a mature stage, focusing on creating real value after the hype bubble has burst. While consumer market popularization still requires time, practical applications in the B2B market are driving industry growth. As these trends continue over the next 2-3 years, the metaverse is likely to establish itself as an everyday business tool rather than a glamorous virtual world. For investors, companies focusing on infrastructure and B2B solutions from a long-term perspective are expected to be more attractive investment targets.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice or solicitation. Investment decisions should be made based on individual judgment and responsibility, and thorough research and expert consultation should be sought when investing in the mentioned companies or technologies.
