TBH:
The essential metaphysics of a “simulation universe” isn’t really that different from a “the universe is a manifestation of God’s will and thought” …
(first there was the Word)
(another name for a series of bytes)
If you can imagine THE DECEPTION, as being, as ugly and deep that a 10 billion year old universe can instantiate?
Then you are kind of groping in the world of Lovecraft.
(and we might simply be NPCs in an ocean of semi-deterministic bullshit)
(but there’s beer and cigs)