Yuga Labs' Otherside Metaverse to Launch November 12th with Amazon Partnership, Targeting 300 Million Users

Yuga Labs, the company behind the prominent Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) NFT collection, has announced the official launch of its highly anticipated Otherside metaverse on November 12th. The announcement, made during the annual ApeFest event in Las Vegas, includes a significant partnership with Amazon Gaming to introduce the metaverse to a vast global audience. This strategic move aims to expand the reach of the Otherside experience and integrate digital assets into mainstream platforms.

The Otherside metaverse is set to open its central social hub, the Koda Nexus, on the launch date. Developed since 2022, the open-world game is designed as an "interoperable, gamified, and decentralized" virtual environment, featuring a three-layer approach that includes a gaming layer with quests and an Otherside Development Kit (ODK) for creators. This infrastructure is intended to foster an always-on, evolving digital world for its community.

A key aspect of the launch is the collaboration with Amazon Gaming, which will feature Otherside prominently on its platform. This partnership includes the release of an exclusive co-branded Voyager character named "Boximus," available for purchase on the Otherside brand store. Yuga Labs Chief Creative Officer Michael Figge emphasized the potential reach, stating: > "Amazon has over 300 million users, and we’re going to be selling digital assets to all of them."

This launch follows a period of significant strategic shifts for Yuga Labs, including recent restructuring and layoffs aimed at fostering a more "cryptonative" and agile team. The company also recently celebrated a "huge win" for the NFT sector with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) closing its investigation into Yuga Labs without enforcement action, reinforcing the company's stance that NFTs are not securities. These developments underscore Yuga Labs' renewed focus on its core BAYC ecosystem and metaverse ambitions.

Beyond the Amazon partnership, Yuga Labs is also collaborating with digital artist Daniel Arsham on a limited-edition, 300-piece Voyager collection, blending fine art with interactive digital collectibles. The Otherside project previously generated over $560 million in sales within 24 hours during its 2022 land sale, highlighting the significant market interest and potential impact of this new phase.