Understanding the knowledge structure and the value creation process of the metaverse.

Area of Science:

• Digital interaction and virtual environments.
• Technology and innovation studies.
• Social computing and human-computer interaction.

Background:

• The metaverse is a rapidly evolving digital space enabling social interaction and value co-creation.
• Pioneering literature on the metaverse is extensive but lacks a structured overview.
• Understanding the foundational and emerging themes is crucial for metaverse research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a structured framework for organizing themes in metaverse literature.
• To analyze the growth and key technological drivers in metaverse research.
• To develop an analytical framework for understanding metaverse value creation.

Main Methods:

• Adaptation of the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) process for literature review.
• Systematic analysis of pioneering metaverse literature to identify key themes and trends.
• Development of an analytical framework based on identified themes.

Main Results:

• Over 84% of metaverse studies were published from 2020 onwards, indicating rapid growth.
• Augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI) are foundational technologies.
• Decision-making and human-machine interface (HMI) represent emerging themes in metaverse research.

Conclusions:

• The metaverse field is experiencing exponential growth, primarily driven by advancements in AR and AI.
• Emerging themes like decision-making and HMI highlight future research directions.
• This paper offers a foundational framework for metaverse research and value creation analysis, paving the way for future progress.