With the world the way it is these days, you can see why people might be itching for an alternate reality: a way to reboot and start fresh. That’s the appeal of virtual realms: they’re places where power can be reversed, disappointments escaped, and capitalist inequalities left behind for something more exciting, malleable, and meaningful.

It’s no wonder, then, that online universes like Fortnite and Roblox currently attract nearly 400 million users, and others like Decentraland and Sandbox are growing rapidly. The market for them will soon be worth more than $1 trillion, estimates show. Facebook has changed its name to Meta to signal its belief in a virtual future. Microsoft is preparing for workplaces populated by digital avatars. Fashion brands…