CES 2023: The future of Metaverse and VR depends on these glasses-free 3D displays

It's called the metaverse. It's called the metaverse. It's called the metaverse.

Half of the companies at the Consumer Electronics Show this year used the term Metaverse. Virtual reality was a hot topic at the Consumer Electronics Show. There were many prototypes for Wearables that could immerse you into virtual worlds where you can see, feel, and smell.

While the Metaverse was being presented as the next big thing in tech, yet another virtual reality technology at the show seemed like the real revolutionaryImmersive 3D technology: glasses-free 3D monitors and TVs

3D screens that didn't require 3D glasses looked amazing. For Metaverse and Virtual Reality to succeed, they need glasses-free 3D monitors and TVs.

Breylon's headset-free 3D displays. The Breylon Fusion made its debut at CES and can be seen in the background. Credit: Matt Binder / Mashable

I came across Brelyon at the Consumer Electronics Show. Breylon is an MIT spin-off that makes headset-free virtual displays and was at the event showing off a prototype. You don't actually wear this prototype because it's not a real headset. It's not possible to do that with a full-on 8K monitor. The world's largest field of view is what the Brelyon Fusion has, according to the company. It felt like it when I stood in front of the monitor.

So is the Breylon Fusion actually any good?

The visuals were amazing. The picture was clear and bright. I've never seen anything like it before. When I watch 3D movies that require glasses, the visuals don't seem as crisp as in 2D to me. As my eyes begin to strain, I have to take the glasses off. I will sometimes catch myself looking in the wrong direction. I didn't experience that while viewing these screens.

Other impressive monitors were also shown off by Breylon. The most realistic 3D visuals I have ever seen are created by one of its products. Imagine the visual effects on the headset display when Tony Stark puts on the Iron Man helmet in a movie. Imagine being able to see those overlays without having to wear a helmet or glasses.

Breylon's products are currently priced in the five-figure range and are not yet available to consumers. A company called 3D Game Market says they will be releasing their consumer monitor at a price point below $2,000 in the coming months.

The 3DGM glasses-free 3D monitor from 3D Gaming Market. Credit: Matt Binder / Mashable

You don't need to stand in front of the screen to use the 3D GM. According to 3D Game Market, the monitor is equipped with eye- tracking technology that improves the 3D visuals to match where you are. It looked great.

The way glasses-free 3D display technology works makes it hard to take pictures on camera. You will not be able to see the 3D visuals in the photos of the displays we've included. Hopefully, you will be able to experience it for yourself someday.

How do the 3DGM and Breylon 3D displays compare?

The difference between the 3DGM and the Breylon model of devices was that 3DGM felt more like the traditional type of 3D one would experience at a 3D movie theater. The screens were better than the visuals. It felt like the 3D imagery was created by going deeper and deeper into the monitor. I was not sure how close I was to the monitor. The imagery popped out of the screen and came towards me.

This isn't a bad thing about 3D GM. Different methods are being used to create glasses-free 3D TVs. If 3D GM's current plans come to fruition, the company will have its monitor out soon and at a price point that consumers can actually afford.

Companies are working on glasses-free 3D as well. PCMag reported on a new gaming laptop that comes with a headset-free 3D monitor built in.

It should be clear why the Metaverse hasn't taken off in the way companies have hoped. The company that kicked off the current Metaverse trend is the parent company of Facebook. It's hard to imagine people wearing clunky virtual reality glasses and using it as an everyday device. Imagine if virtual reality Metaverses could be entered in the same way users surf the internet, in front of their monitor.

There was a store in Las Vegas that made the issue clear. There was a virtual reality experience on the Vegas Strip. The cartoon imagery of people wearing headsets was similar to the one shown in the marketing visuals.

Virtual reality won't be very useful in the year 2023. If companies want their virtual worlds to be more than just a tourist attraction, they need 3D displays to take off. The Metaverse is stuck with headsets that people don't like.