Does the metaverse need a universal 3D asset to thrive?

Dade Orgeron, vice president of 3D Innovation at Shutterstock, offers insight into how universal 3D assets will unite our futures in the metaverse

Fortune Business Insights says the global metaverse market is going to be worth $1.5 trillion by 2029. Major brands are getting their feet wet with virtual experiences, and Apple hasn't even started releasing headsets yet. So what do we do with that?

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While metaverses are mainstream-grade likely 10 years out, none of this is going to get done without 3D artists. This isn't a 2D endeavour, it's a 3D wonderland likely bankrolled by businesses that have some to little experience with 3D. That's a huge opportunity, but it could also be a major headache if we don't start thinking about how we'd approach a massive content rush.

Some of this will come down to process. Do you have the right skills/tools in place to get the work done? Can you design for a wide range of aesthetics? Can you design quickly? But even with all of those boxes checked, there’s still a red light flashing in the distance, and its name is file formats.

When the businesses come knocking, they’re not going to want assets that are one-use or are only compatible with a few tools or platforms. They’re going to want flexibility and things that allow them to design for different worlds and campaigns at once. And anyone who has been designing 3D for a while now knows the pains of trying to move content, in full, from one tool to another.