After nearly three years of anticipation, Yuga Labs, the visionary studio behind the Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC), is finally ready to open the doors to its most ambitious project yet, the Otherside metaverse. Officially launching on November 12, Otherside is a sprawling virtual world designed to merge gaming, NFT ownership, and social experiences into one seamless blockchain-powered universe.
Welcome to Otherside.
— Othersidemeta (@OthersideMeta) October 25, 2025
The Koda Nexus will be going live on November 12th. pic.twitter.com/9JZdMyCwMH
Originally teased in 2022 following Yuga’s $450 million funding round, Otherside has since evolved through multiple play tests and early access events. The company revealed the final launch details during ApeFest 2025 in Las Vegas, reigniting excitement across both BAYC holders and the broader crypto gaming community.
“This is one of the most ambitious projects ever attempted in the space,” said Michael Figge, Yuga Labs’ Chief Product Officer. “We’re creating an accessible world where players can experience ownership and creativity in entirely new ways.”
Where Web2 meets Web3
Otherside aims to bridge the gap between the familiar gaming experiences of Fortnite or Roblox and the decentralized ownership model of Web3. Players can join with a simple email login or connect their crypto wallets, a move designed to welcome both traditional gamers and blockchain enthusiasts.
Unlike conventional games, every avatar, item, or land plot in Otherside exists as a verifiable NFT, granting players full control and the ability to trade or sell assets outside the platform. Figge noted that lowering entry barriers is key to onboarding new users:
“Once someone tries Otherside, it’s a great way to understand what true digital ownership feels like.”
The launch phase introduces two primary zones: The Swamp, a nod to BAYC’s roots, and Nexus, a bustling hub where players can meet, explore, and collaborate. Otherside will also debut several community-driven experiences such as Bathroom Blitz and Otherside Outbreak, signaling Yuga’s intent to make creativity central to the experience.
Amazon partnership and Boximus avatar collection
A major highlight from ApeFest was Yuga Labs’ announcement of a partnership with Amazon to debut the “Boximus” avatar collection, digital characters inspired by Amazon’s iconic shipping boxes. The collaboration marks one of the first ventures to bridge mainstream retail with metaverse assets.
Amazon Gaming is coming to Otherside.
— Othersidemeta (@OthersideMeta) October 25, 2025
Meet Boximus, a limited Voyager made in collaboration with @AMZNVideoGames, launching exclusively on Otherside’s Amazon brand store.
Store & Boximus drop Thursday, 10/30 @ 9AM PT pic.twitter.com/2DMY7ZLRVw
According to Figge, Boximus avatars will be purchasable directly through Amazon’s website and fully usable within the Otherside ecosystem. “Amazon has over 300 million users, and we aim to bring digital assets to all of them,” he said.
Yuga Labs also collaborated with world-renowned artist Daniel Arsham on a limited-edition, 300-piece Voyager collection, intertwining fine art with dynamic digital collectibles that evolve over time.
These blockchain-verified avatars will be priced affordably to attract a wider audience beyond traditional crypto-native users, reflecting Yuga’s strategy to expand mainstream accessibility.
Empowering creators through the Otherside Development Kit (ODK)
At the heart of Otherside’s innovation lies the Otherside Development Kit (ODK), a suite of creation tools built using Unreal Engine. The ODK empowers players, developers, and artists to design and publish their own experiences, games, and worlds within Otherside.
“This is about enabling a creator-driven economy,” Figge explained. “We’re giving builders better opportunities than what current Web2 platforms like Roblox or Minecraft offer. Here, creators can truly own and monetize their work.”
By making game-building as intuitive as drag-and-drop website creation, Yuga Labs hopes to foster an open ecosystem that encourages participation and rewards innovation.
A foundation for the future of the metaverse
The official launch of Otherside on November 12 will not be just another game release, it represents Yuga Labs’ long-term vision for a decentralized, user-owned digital economy.
The firm has refocused its resources on the BAYC and Otherside ecosystem after parting with IPs like CryptoPunks, Meebits, and Moonbirds earlier this year. With strategic partnerships, powerful creative tools, and a high degree of accessibility, Yuga Labs is positioning Otherside as a cornerstone of the emerging Web3 landscape.
As the company put it in its launch video:
“This isn’t just a release — it’s the foundation for a platform built for the future.”
Roman Zaika
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