Is the metaverse dead, or just changing?

The metaverse is not dead. It is misunderstood. I predict the durable version will be many interconnected digital layers powered by AR, XR, and AI, not 1 escapist cartoon world. Meta burned tens of billions on legless avatars, earned the hype hangover, then quietly pivoted to smart glasses that actually sell. Apple never said metaverse once and built Vision Pro anyway. The real metaverse is spatial, practical, and layered onto reality: navigation in your glasses, a digital twin of your factory, a concert you attend from your couch. Never confuse explosive adoption of a feature with a platform shift, and never confuse a bad first product with a dead idea. It arrives quietly, then shows up everywhere.