A THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVE: ANALYZING THE METAVERSE AND AR/VR TECHNOLOGIES AS FACTORS RESHAPING THE MOBILE APPLICATION ECOSYSTEM

Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are increasingly paramount in advancing a novel, immersive paradigm that challenges the established Mobile Application Ecosystem (MAE). As user engagement prioritizes persistent and shared 3D environments, the integration of these Extended Reality (XR) technologies offers unprecedented opportunities to streamline interactions, enhance user experience, and redefine application utility. This article examines the transformative theoretical role of XR, specifically the fundamental components of the Metaverse in empowering stakeholders across the mobile application spectrum, from platform developers to end-users, to navigate this shift toward spatial computing. This study employs a qualitative research approach, drawing upon scholarly literature and conceptual case studies to analyze the role of the Metaverse and AR/VR in the evolution of the Mobile Application Ecosystem (MAE). A comprehensive review of academic publications, industry reports, and technological roadmaps provides the theoretical underpinning, while real-world examples illustrate the practical applications of immersive technologies in domains such as virtual commerce, social networking, and remote collaboration. By enabling spatial interaction and shared virtual presence, this paradigm shift addresses key challenges inherent in traditional mobile application design, such as the inherent limitations of a 2D interface and the isolation of single-user experiences. Furthermore, the analysis helps to uncover platform convergence models, offering developers deeper insight into the requisite skills and infrastructure needed for building Metaverse native applications. The Metaverse, underpinned by AR/VR, has become mainstream in theoretical discourse, and its intersection with the MAE holds significant potential to drive systemic change toward a more engaging and spatially-aware future.