Cross-Reality Lifestyle: Integrating Physical and Virtual Lives through Multi-Platform Metaverse

TL;DR

This work addresses the fragmentation between physical and virtual life by introducing cross-reality lifestyles and the ACE Cube a three-axial framework ($A$, $C$, $E$) to quantify how experiences amplify, complement, or emerge across physical and metaverse spaces. It introduces the verse concept to treat diverse implementations of the same activity space as interrelated

Abstract

Technological advances are redefining the relationship between physical and virtual spaces. Traditionally, when users engage in virtual reality, they are completely cutoff from the physical space. Similarly, they are unable to access virtual experiences while engaged in physical activities. However, modern multiplatform metaverse environments allow simultaneous participation through mobile devices, creating new opportunities for integrated experiences. This study introduces the concept of "cross-reality lifestyles" to examine how users actively combine their physical and virtual activities. We identify three patterns of integration: first, Amplification: one space enhances experiences in the other; second, Complementary: spaces offer different but equally valuable alternatives, and third, Emergence: simultaneous engagement creates entirely new experiences. We propose the ACE cube framework that analyzes these patterns as continuous characteristics, and by integrating this analysis with technical requirements of commercial platforms, we provide practical guidelines for platform selection, technical investment prioritization, and cross-reality application development.

Figures (5)

• Figure 1: A live music event on Cluster, a metaverse platform accessible from smartphones. Although some users are on their smartphones, they are dancing and responding to the music in VR space.
• Figure 2: Patterns of integration between verse 1 (V$_{1}$, physical reality) and verse 2 (V$_{2}$, metaverse) spaces. The diagram illustrates three distinct patterns: (1) Amplification, where one space catalyzes value enhancement in the other through both reality-first and metaverse-first approaches; (2) Complementary, where the one verce provides alternative options to overcome anoter verse's inherent limitations while maintaining another verse's core strengths; and (3) Emergence, where parallel engagement in both spaces creates qualitatively new experiences beyond simple combination.
• Figure 3: The ACE Cube Framework is used to analyze cross-reality experiences. This three-dimensional framework maps cross-reality experiences along the Amplification (A), Complementarity (C), and Emergence (E) axes.
• Figure 4: Cross-reality experiences and platform distribution in the ACE Cube. Two-dimensional projections show the A-C (left) and A-E (right) planes. Examples of experiences and commercial platforms are mapped onto these planes. When mapping the platforms, a yellow curve appeared on the A-C plane, indicating that existing platforms have adopted a clear strategic differentiation aligned with the A-C trade-off. However, social VR platforms demonstrate superior emergent capabilities on the A-E plane compared to platforms in other categories.
• Figure 5: Technical requirements mapping in the ACE cube. Technical requirements are classified as content (circles), platform infrastructure (diamonds), or devices and interfaces (triangles) across projections A-C and A-E. The yellow lines in both planes are in the same position as in Fig. \ref{['fig:ace-map-experience']} They represent the technical requirements for realizing cross-reality experiences, as well as platform selection and mapping. In the A-C plane, the yellow line help select platform technology elements according to experience A-C trade-offs. In the A-E plane, the yellow line show that technologies positioned along the E-axis provide emergent experiences through supporting platforms.