As dusk settles, the sound of chirping bugs envelops me while I venture through a vast, virtual swamp, drawn by the thumping bass resonating in the distance. The surroundings are sparse, featuring only a handful of trees and a couple of other players. My journey leads me to a large wooden structure illuminated by lights, which reveals itself to be the official clubhouse of the Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC). However, upon reaching the door, I find it locked despite the inviting glow from within. This marks my initial steps into a digital realm inspired by the infamous cartoon monkeys that epitomized the NFT craze. Although the NFT hype has waned, Yuga Labs, the company behind BAYC and several other NFT collections, is gearing up for a significant digital launch with a metaverse called Otherside.
Otherside has been in the works for quite some time. Yuga Labs announced its ambitions to create this metaverse after successfully raising $450 million in funding in 2022. A co-founder of BAYC expressed hopes of building an “interoperable,” “gamified,” and “decentralized” virtual world. Following a period of relative silence, Yuga Labs released an alpha version earlier this year, and today, during the ApeFest event in Las Vegas, it was officially announced that Otherside will launch on November 12th.
According to Michael Figge, Yuga Labs' chief product officer, Otherside is poised to be one of the most ambitious projects in the metaverse space. The core concept likens Otherside to popular platforms like Roblox or Fortnite, but with a twist: players can use NFTs as avatars to explore virtual worlds created by both Yuga Labs and fellow players. Users can log in using a crypto wallet, but there’s no mandatory requirement to own an NFT to participate; simply joining via a browser with traditional methods like email is also an option. “We believe there should be a very low barrier to entry for anyone wanting to try out Otherside,” Figge explains, emphasizing the opportunity for users to experience the ownership of digital assets.
In Otherside, players will encounter a plethora of crypto-related elements. From NFT avatars and plots of land to blockchain-based currency, Yuga Labs aims to cultivate a creator ecosystem that offers builders a more enticing deal compared to competing metaverses. Importantly, these digital assets will exist outside of Otherside, allowing for potential future transfers. For users who prefer a more casual experience, it’s entirely possible to navigate Otherside without delving deeply into its crypto components.
Among the various areas, The Swamp is just one location. Otherside will also feature a significant virtual hub known as the Nexus. A variety of community-generated experiences will be available, including a shooter game titled Bathroom Blitz—described as “action so explosive, you’ll be clenching cheeks the whole time”—and a zombie survival game called Otherside Outbreak. Additionally, users can create “Bubbles,” which function like social audio rooms, similar to a Clubhouse room.
Yuga Labs is teaming up with Amazon to introduce a new avatar system called Boximus, crafted from a collection of Amazon boxes. This partnership will enable players to customize their in-game avatars, which represent NFTs they own. Figge mentions that any NFT collection can submit their avatar designs for consideration in Otherside. Furthermore, initial avatar offerings will include a 300-piece collection from digital artist Daniel Arsham, alongside the Amazon collaboration. While specific pricing details are yet to be disclosed, Figge assures that these avatars will be “reasonable and affordable,” with the added benefit of resellability due to their blockchain nature.
During my exploration of The Swamp, it felt more like a giant, 3D social chatroom rather than a fully-fledged game. The experience was limited to wandering the environment and chatting with other visitors via voice or text. Although I reserve final judgment until the public launch, my initial impressions likened it more to the underwhelming experiences found in Meta's Horizon Worlds than the engaging gameplay of Fortnite. In The Swamp, my activities were primarily restricted to exploring the exterior of the clubhouse or observing various features such as a closed outhouse and an “out of order” platform by a train track. Surprisingly, a train passed by as I wandered, but my character was too slow to catch it.
While it’s reasonable to assume that many of the initial issues will be addressed before launch, environments focused solely on social interaction can often feel niche or bland. Popular titles like VRChat are exceptions, while games like Fortnite and Roblox succeed because they offer engaging gameplay to enjoy alongside socializing. Given the current emphasis on crypto and the limited activities available, I'm uncertain whether Otherside will capture the same excitement. However, like Fortnite, Roblox, and Minecraft, which evolved into massive hits, there is potential for Otherside to grow into something more compelling. Until then, skepticism remains, and it’s likely I won’t be venturing to the other side anytime soon.
