The Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) is poised to bolster its metaverse presence with the launch of a new platform called Otherside. This significant initiative, spearheaded by Yuga Labs, was officially announced with a release date set for November 12, 2023, during the ApeFest event held in Las Vegas.
Otherside aims to develop an interoperable, gamified, and decentralized virtual world. The project was initially unveiled after Yuga Labs raised an impressive $450 million in funding in 2022. The ambition is to blend elements popular in platforms like Roblox and Fortnite while incorporating cryptocurrency features, allowing users to traverse virtual spaces and use NFTs as their avatars.
To access Otherside, players can log in using a crypto wallet; however, ownership of an NFT is not required for participation, which opens the door to a broader audience. Users may also join via traditional means like email, aiming to reduce the entry barriers for newcomers.
Among its many features, Otherside will not be a monolithic community but rather a diverse blend of experiences within its virtual environment. Key areas to expect include The Swamp and a central hub called the Nexus. Community-driven games will also be available, including “Bathroom Blitz,” a competitive shooter, and “Otherside Outbreak,” featuring a zombie theme. Additionally, players can create ‘Bubbles,’ which serve as social audio spaces, enhancing communication among users.
Yuga Labs has established partnerships to facilitate avatar creation, notably collaborating with digital artist Daniel Arsham and Amazon. An avatar called Boximus, crafted from Amazon boxes, will be available for purchase directly through Amazon’s website. While specific pricing is yet to be revealed, Yuga Labs assures that costs will be reasonable and accessible. The ability to resell montages of avatars on the blockchain offers a unique selling point over traditional metaverse platforms.
Otherside aspires to compete with well-entrenched metaverse platforms; however, some skepticism remains regarding its initial allure. Unlike established games such as Fortnite and Roblox, its early offerings appear somewhat limited. Nevertheless, there is substantial room for development, drawing inspiration from the evolution of other successful platforms.
As Yuga Labs advances the creation of Otherside, the hope persists that it will flourish into a vibrant community where users can socialize and engage, cementing its place in an evolving metaverse landscape.