Yuga Labs has taken a major step toward bringing its metaverse ambitions fully in-house. The company has acquired the Unreal Engine-based platform used to build Otherside from technology firm Improbable, along with a permanent license to the high-concurrency multiplayer tech that has powered the project’s largest demos. As part of the deal, a large portion of the original development team behind the platform is expected to join Yuga Labs in early 2026.
Bringing Otherside’s Core Tech Under One Roof
The acquisition was confirmed by Yuga Labs co-founder Greg Solano, who said the move gives the company direct control over the tools and systems that underpin Otherside. Until now, the metaverse project has relied on Improbable’s infrastructure to support large-scale multiplayer experiences. By owning the platform outright and licensing the underlying networking technology on a permanent basis, Yuga is removing an external dependency that had become central to its long-term plans.
Otherside is built on Unreal Engine and designed as a persistent multiplayer world tied closely to Yuga’s NFT ecosystem. Full ownership of the platform allows Yuga to iterate faster, adjust development priorities internally, and align engineering decisions more closely with gameplay and creator needs. The company has framed the acquisition as a way to accelerate development while continuing to scale the world’s technical limits.
A Sharper Focus After a Year of Restructuring
Yuga Labs rose to prominence in 2021 with the launch of the Bored Ape Yacht Club, which quickly became one of the most recognizable NFT collections in web3. Over the following years, the studio expanded aggressively, acquiring major NFT brands and positioning Otherside as a central hub for its intellectual property.
In 2025, Yuga began pulling back from that expansion. The company sold off several high-profile NFT properties, including CryptoPunks, Meebits, and Moonbirds, to refocus on BAYC and Otherside. That shift has been reflected in a steady stream of updates and public tests for the metaverse, with more attention placed on gameplay systems, creator tools, and infrastructure.
The Improbable acquisition fits into that broader reset. Rather than continuing to spread resources across multiple brands, Yuga is doubling down on the technology and talent required to make Otherside its flagship product.
Building Toward a Scalable Multiplayer World
One of Otherside’s defining goals has been scale. Earlier in 2025, the project hosted a shooter demo known as Project Dragon that set a Guinness World Record with more than 2,100 players active in a single shared server. That test relied heavily on Improbable’s high-concurrency technology, which is now licensed to Yuga on a permanent basis.
Subsequent events, including the Bored Ape-themed Bathroom Blitz and the large-scale stress test Otherside Outbreak, continued to explore how the platform performs under heavy load. These experiments were less about polished gameplay and more about proving that large numbers of players could interact smoothly in real time. Yuga has consistently pointed to this technical foundation as essential for the future of Otherside.
Creator Tools and User-Generated Content
Otherside is structured around a multi-layered approach, with social spaces, gameplay zones, and creator-built experiences forming the backbone of the world. The introduction of the Nexus in November 2025 marked the launch of a central social hub where players can gather and explore. Future layers are planned to expand gameplay and open the door to deeper user-generated content.
A key part of that effort is the Otherside Development Kit, or ODK. Released in mid-2025, the ODK gives builders access to a wide library of assets and AI-assisted tools that allow environments to be created using simple text commands. The goal is to lower the barrier to entry for creators while still supporting complex multiplayer experiences and on-chain ownership.
Yuga has positioned the builder ecosystem around real ownership, with creators retaining control over their work and earning royalties through in-game economies. Full control of the platform now gives Yuga more flexibility to expand these tools and integrate them more tightly with Otherside’s gameplay systems.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The final months of 2025 are expected to bring updates to the Voyager avatar system and expanded utility for Otherdeeds, the land NFTs tied to Otherside. These updates are intended to give landowners more meaningful ways to use their space, including hosting events and participating in crafting systems.
In 2026, Yuga plans to introduce a new gameplay layer centered on Resources, a system expected to support land production, crafting, and player-driven economies. These features will run on ApeChain, a custom blockchain layer that supports transactions and assets within Otherside. The ecosystem uses $APE as its primary currency and remains closely tied to Ethereum standards.
The addition of Improbable’s former developers to Yuga’s internal team is expected to play a key role in delivering these updates. With the platform, technology, and talent now under one roof, Yuga is betting that it can move faster and build a more cohesive version of Otherside moving forward.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What did Yuga Labs acquire from Improbable?
Yuga Labs acquired the Unreal Engine-based platform used to build Otherside, along with a permanent license to Improbable’s high-concurrency multiplayer technology.
Will Improbable’s developers be joining Yuga Labs?
Yes. A significant portion of the development and engineering team that worked on Otherside under Improbable is expected to join Yuga Labs in early 2026.
Why is high-concurrency multiplayer technology important for Otherside?
Otherside is designed to support thousands of players in shared spaces at the same time. High-concurrency technology allows large numbers of players to interact in real time without major performance issues.
How does this affect the future of Otherside?
Owning the platform and licensing the core technology gives Yuga Labs more control over development, faster iteration, and greater flexibility in expanding gameplay and creator tools.
What is the Otherside Development Kit?
The ODK is a set of tools that allows creators to build environments and experiences within Otherside, using a large asset library and AI-assisted commands.
What is ApeChain used for in Otherside?
ApeChain is a custom blockchain layer that powers assets, transactions, and economies within Otherside, using $APE as the primary currency.
