The Metaverse is one of the biggest current digital transformation trends. Companies are racing to recruit Metaverse development experts to build their new virtual realms to capitalize on this enormous opportunity and avoid being left behind. But what qualifies such a developer?
How do businesses know what skills to look for in recruiting development talent?
Just as the metaverse itself can be tricky to define conclusively, it can also be difficult to articulate precisely what a metaverse developer is. To gain clarity, let’s take a closer look at this digital world and the skills required to bring its immersive digital worlds to life.
What Is the Metaverse?
Generally speaking, the Metaverse refers to the next evolution of life online: interactive virtual worlds alongside and overlapping the physical world. It’s also been described as a shared, 3D version of the Internet.
Imagine a digital avatar of yourself interacting with a fully realized, three-dimensional digital space. Through this avatar, you can do nearly anything in the physical world. Inhabiting a digital body, you could shop in a virtual mall, join friends at real-time events, work in a communal virtual office, or buy and sell valuable digital assets.
Also, you could visit tourist attractions on the other side of the globe in seconds or invest in one-of-a-kind digital art. Imagine instantly joining friends, family, or colleagues thousands of miles away, not through a 2D Zoom call but in a realistic digital room where your avatars can interact face-to-face.
The Role of a Metaverse Developer
A Metaverse developer is a professional who specializes in creating and maintaining the various aspects of this digital world. Their role involves designing, developing, and implementing virtual environments and experiences.
If you become a Metaverse developer, you will be responsible for creating the platforms and experiences that make the digital world an interactive and engaging space. The work of Metaverse developers often requires a blend of creativity and technical prowess as they bring to life imaginative worlds that are also functional and user-friendly.
The Skills of a Metaverse Developer
This digital world isn’t built on any single new technology or skill. Instead, developers draw from a combination of several existing skill sets. At WillDom, we bring together communities of experts in these technologies, which form the foundation of the Metaverse.
Below are five skills every Metaverse developer should have:
#1 – Programming languages
Fundamentally, developers in the Metaverse space must be familiar with the coding languages on which the Internet is built.
Though hundreds of programming languages exist, a few have emerged as the most useful for Metaverse development. Python, Javascript, C++, C#, Swift, and Rust are among the most popular languages used in coding for the Metaverse.
#2 – 3D modeling and animation engines
Developed to help gaming studios create realistic game worlds, 3D graphics and physics engines are now valuable tools for rendering worlds in the Metaverse.
Today, developers often work with Unreal Engine 5 (coded in C#) or Unity (coded in C++) to create realistic digital spaces.
#3 – User experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design
UX and UI designers study making customer interactions with a company’s products and services as smooth and seamless as possible.
In the context of the Metaverse, clever UX and UI design can help billions of new users quickly adopt the latest technology by making it easy and intuitive to understand.
#4 – Blockchain technology
Blockchain is a database technology that keeps permanent records of transactions in a decentralized public ledger. Since identical copies of this digital ledger are distributed to multiple computers, it’s tough to hack this information.
Why is this important to Metaverse development? Blockchain technology allows developers to create and scale a thriving virtual economy where users can safely buy and sell physical and digital assets with cryptocurrency.
#5 – Extended reality (XR) technologies
XR (Extended Reality) covers both AR (augmented reality) and VR (virtual reality) technologies. These technologies extend our existence in one of two ways. They can blend digital information with our physical reality (like smart glasses or phone apps layering digital information over what we’re seeing and hearing), and they can also immerse us in a wholly digital environment, as with VR headsets.
Though XR technology is not strictly necessary to experience the Metaverse, major development powerhouses (like Meta) see its potential to give users a full-dive experience.
How to Hire a Metaverse Developer
Hiring a developer skilled in the digital world is nuanced and multifaceted, given the unique blend of skills and expertise required in this emerging field. Finding the right talent involves assessing technical capabilities and understanding a candidate’s creativity, adaptability, and vision for the future of digital interactions.
Here are seven detailed steps to guide you through the process of hiring a Metaverse developer:
- Define your project requirements: Clearly outline your scope, objectives, and needs. Determine the technologies, platforms, and user experiences you aim to incorporate. Understanding the specifics of your project will help you identify the skills and expertise needed in a developer.
- Look for relevant experience: Seek candidates with experience in VR/AR development, 3D modeling, blockchain, or similar technologies pertinent to your project. Experience in creating interactive, immersive environments or developing specific VR/AR platforms can be precious.
- Evaluate technical skills: Assess candidates’ proficiency in essential programming languages like C++, Python, or JavaScript. Look for experience with game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine, often used in Metaverse development. Knowledge of blockchain technology can also be a significant asset.
- Check creative and design skills: The Metaverse is as much about creativity as technology. Review candidates’ portfolios for a sense of their design aesthetics and ability to create engaging user-friendly virtual environments. Experience in UX/UI design for 3D spaces is a plus.
- Assess problem-solving skills: Given the rapidly evolving nature of the Metaverse, look for adaptable candidates with strong problem-solving skills. They should be able to navigate unanticipated challenges and innovate solutions.
- Consider communication and collaboration skills: Effective communication and collaboration are critical in Metaverse projects, often involving multidisciplinary teams. Ensure your candidate can work well with others, articulate ideas clearly, and understand user feedback.
- Conduct a technical interview or assessment: Finally, conduct a technical interview or assessment to gauge the candidate’s practical skills. This could involve a coding test, a review of a sample project, or a discussion about specific technologies and methods relevant to the Metaverse.
We Can Help You Find the Perfect Metaverse Developer!
The niche software development skills required to create a virtual world with the Metaverse concept are not easily found in the general tech talent pool. The time and resources spent on finding developers looking for Metaverse jobs and going through the complete recruitment process can substantially drain resources. That’s why outsourcing to a Metaverse development company is the solution.
With WillDom, you gain direct access to ready-to-go dedicated teams of developers who have been rigorously vetted for their technical skills, creative capabilities, and experience in Metaverse projects. These professionals are at the top of their game with Metaverse development tools and will bring innovative insights and practical experience to your projects.
Contact WillDom today to access a dedicated team that aligns seamlessly with your vision and goals!