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In the last few years, we have witnessed the rapid development of many innovative devices and original techniques for providing haptic sensations, eg, using force feedback, mid-air interfaces [1],[2], props and encounter-type devices [3],[4], or exploiting perceptual phenomena with cross-modal effects such as pseudo-haptics [5]. While increasingly immersive and realistic experiences have developed at a fast pace, the emergence of a “metaverse” proposes new use cases where prolonged utilisation and social interactions become more frequent and widespread [6]. The metaverse definition is continuously evolving, however, for now it can been seen as a collective virtual shared space, created by the convergence of the physical and digital worlds, where users interact, socialize, and engage with each other through digital representations of themselves. This new direction in social interactions presents the haptics community with new challenges and opportunities. Indeed, as eXtended Reality (XR) 1 technologies continue to gain traction in various fields, the role of haptic feedback and feedforward in enhancing such experiences have become increasingly evident. This growing significance is reflected in the proliferation of research efforts and the emergence of dedicated haptic designs, tools, and rendering techniques. Never before have tactile actuators found such proliferation in 3D applications, akin to that experienced in the early days of smartphones.

This special issue is dedicated to exploring the multifaceted realm of haptics tailored to XR environments, including Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR). The …