In Brief
- Acquisition Announced: Yuga Labs has acquired the Unreal Engine-based platform used for Otherside, including a perpetual license for high-concurrency technology from Improbable.
- Focus on Otherside and BAYC: Following the disposal of other NFT properties, Yuga Labs is now concentrating on enhancing the Otherside ecosystem and Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC).
- Future Developments: Recent advancements mark a push towards large-scale multiplayer experiences and expanding creator tools within Otherside.
Yuga Labs, the company behind the renowned Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) NFT collection, marked a significant step in its operational strategy by acquiring the Unreal Engine-based creation platform previously owned by tech firm Improbable. This platform has been essential in developing Otherside, a blockchain metaverse project tied to the BAYC universe. The transaction, which also includes many developers and engineers from Improbable, is set to close at the start of the upcoming year.
Greg Solano, the co-founder of Yuga Labs who is also known by the pseudonym Garga, announced on X that this acquisition would grant Yuga Labs a perpetual license for Improbable’s high concurrency technology. This technology is instrumental in enabling multiplayer platforms to support large numbers of concurrent users smoothly. Solano emphasized the importance of this move for Yuga Labs, stating, “We move much faster and [can] invest more directly in creators.”
Strategic Shifts and Platform Integration
In recent years, Yuga Labs has narrowed its focus primarily to enhancing the Otherside metaverse and the underlying BAYC ecosystem. This decision came after the company divested several NFT collections it had acquired, such as CryptoPunks, Meebits, and Moonbirds, to reallocate resources and attention to its core projects. This strategic shift began showing promising developments in Otherside throughout 2025, with significant updates and new features aimed at enriching the user experience.
The acquisition of the Otherside platform from Improbable brings significant advantage to Yuga Labs, allowing for more seamless integration and quicker implementation of innovations. Solano describes the acquisition as pivotal in establishing “the best creator platform in crypto,” which will enable users to create rich multiplayer experiences complete with real economies and full digital ownership.
Expanding Gameplay and Empowering Creators
Yuga Labs’ recent initiatives have demonstrated an impressive commitment to expanding multiplayer capabilities within Otherside. Earlier in the year, the platform hosted Project Dragon, a large-scale shooter demo that set a Guinness World Record with over 2,100 players on a single server. This was followed by other multiplayer events, including a Bored Ape-themed shooter and Otherside Outbreak, both designed to test platform performance and gather user feedback.
Additionally, Yuga Labs plans to roll out new gameplay features and enhancements for creators in 2026. This includes the introduction of Resources, a gameplay feature anticipated to integrate land production, crafting, and a player-run economy. The Otherside Development Kit (ODK), launched in mid-2025, offers nearly 1,000 assets from 29 biomes and includes tools such as chat-driven AI, emote makers, and graffiti tools, further lowering barriers for content creators.
Internal Team Growth and Future Outlook
The coming year will see the integration of the development personnel from Improbable into Yuga Labs, a transition that promises to drive the future updates and enhancements to Otherside more effectively. With the development team now in-house, Yuga Labs aims to accelerate the pace of innovation and more directly invest resources into the expansion of Otherside and its creator community.
These strategic moves underline Yuga Labs’ commitment to advancing the Otherside platform, improving user engagement, and empowering creators with more robust and versatile tools, ensuring a thriving ecosystem for its flagship projects.
