But now, in the pandemic era, businesses see potential in the metaverse.

The consultancy Accenture made headlines this fall by ordering 60,000 Oculus headsets to onboard and train new workers. There’s new interest in remote workplaces, said Andy Challenger, senior vice president of the HR consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

“Companies that have started to really think about and explore how new technology around the metaverse could help build culture, and build a place to exist outside of a traditional office,” he said.