Interoperability of the Metaverse: A Digital Ecosystem Perspective Review

The Metaverse, a pivotal element of the digital revolution, holds transformative potential for industries and lifestyles. Yet, skepticism persists, with concerns that enthusiasm may outstrip technological progress. Interoperability is a key obstacle, as highlighted by a CoinMarketCap report (February 2023) noting over 240 isolated Metaverse initiatives. Despite agreement on its importance, systematic research on interoperability remains scarce. This study bridges the gap through a systematic literature review, using content analysis on Web of Science and Scopus databases, identifying 74 relevant publications. Interoperability lacks a standardized definition, varying by context, while the Metaverse is broadly seen as a digital ecosystem. Urs Gasser's framework for digital ecosystem interoperability—spanning technological, data, human, and institutional dimensions—guides our analysis. By applying this framework across three identified layers, we provide a comprehensive overview of Metaverse interoperability research, establishing benchmarks to advance scholarly exploration in this complex field.