Metaverse-as-a-Service (MaaS)

Metaverse-as-a-Service (MaaS) is a business model in which a technology provider offers the building blocks for a virtual world, such as 3D engines, avatars, hosting, payment tools and sometimes blockchain components, so that brands, schools or other organisations can launch their own immersive spaces without building the technology themselves. It follows the pattern of software and platform as a service, charging subscription or usage fees. Blockchain-based offerings may add NFTs for digital items, tokens for in-world economies and wallet log-ins. The idea grew with interest in the metaverse in 2021 and 2022, when brands bought land and staged events in worlds such as Decentraland. Interest cooled as visitor numbers stayed low, and the abbreviation MaaS is also used for unrelated services, including mobility-as-a-service and mining-as-a-service.