Since their beginnings, virtual worlds have experienced two major media hypes in their short lifetime—the first in 2003 after the launch of Second Life and the second in 2021, with Mark Zuckerberg announcing his strategy for the Metaverse. Most academic research on virtual worlds emerged between these two peaks of interest. This article delves into the enduring relevance of such research, contrasting the two hype cycles. It analyzes the reasons behind current caution expressed by companies and offers insights into the future trajectory of the Metaverse and which crucial developments are needed for sustained traction in virtual worlds.

中文翻译：

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生存还是毁灭：虚拟世界和虚拟宇宙会获得持久的吸引力吗？


自诞生以来，虚拟世界在其短暂的生命周期中经历了两次主要的媒体炒作——第一次是在 2003 年《第二人生》推出后，第二次是在 2021 年马克·扎克伯格宣布了他的元宇宙战略。大多数关于虚拟世界的学术研究都出现在这两个兴趣高峰之间。本文深入探讨了此类研究的持久相关性，并对比了两个炒作周期。它分析了公司当前所表达的谨慎态度背后的原因，并提供了对元宇宙未来发展轨迹的见解，以及虚拟世界的持续吸引力需要哪些关键的发展。