Yuga Labs has announced a new phase of development for Otherside, its blockchain-based virtual world. The updates, set to roll out starting in July, include artificial intelligence tools that simplify world-building and new interactive experiences designed to increase engagement. These developments are part of a broader plan to prepare for the launch of Voyager 2.0 and enhanced utility for Otherdeed holders later this year.
Otherside Metaverse Adds New AI Tools
Otherside Metaverse Adds New AI Tools
The biggest addition is a set of AI-powered tools that let users build 3D environments in Otherside using plain text commands. The system runs through the Otherside Development Kit (ODK) and uses an integrated AI agent called Koda Agent. Type "make the sky blue" or "add trees," and the AI applies the changes directly to the environment.
No coding required. In July, Yuga Labs will also unlock nearly 1,000 digital assets from 29 Otherdeed Biomes for use through the ODK. The goal is to lower the technical barrier and get more creators building custom experiences on the platform.
Otherside Metaverse Adds New AI Tools
Bathroom Blitz, Voyager XP, and Outbreak
Three new gaming experiences launch in Otherside starting in July. First up is Bathroom Blitz, an 8v8 team shooter set in the Bored Ape bathroom. Built by a group called Command Line using the ODK, the game will run for several weeks while the team collects player feedback.
Playing Bathroom Blitz will contribute to Voyager XP, a tracking system that logs player activity across Otherside and will be used to distribute future rewards. Later in July, the Bubbles space reopens with a new event called Meet Me at the Clubhouse. The Clubhouse now supports up to 500 simultaneous users, up from 100, and includes a direct-link feature that lets players invite others with a single URL.
This makes it easier for community groups, streamers, and creators to host larger gatherings. In August, Yuga Labs will launch Otherside Outbreak, the second major long-term event. This experience is designed to stress-test the platform's ability to handle large numbers of users in real time, and it will also feed into Voyager XP progression.
Otherside Metaverse Adds New AI Tools
Role of NFTs and ApeChain in Otherside
Otherside is a virtual world from Yuga Labs, the team behind Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC). It blends open-world gameplay with blockchain technology and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Players explore the world as avatars and can use various NFTs—Apes, Mutants, Meebits, and Kodas—as their in-game characters.
Land in Otherside is sold as NFTs called Otherdeeds, which represent ownership of virtual plots. Some plots include rare features or characters and can be used to build, explore, or host activities. The platform's economy runs on $APE, a native token used for item trading, crafting, and other transactions. Otherside is built on ApeChain and supports widely used Ethereum token standards, enabling a wide range of web3 interactions.
To make content creation more accessible, Yuga Labs is releasing a set of simplified tools for Otherdeed holders. These tools let users create graffiti stickers, emotes, and other in-world content without touching the full ODK. The features include protections to ensure creators maintain ownership and receive royalties for their work.
Otherside Metaverse Adds New AI Tools
Moonbirds, Mythics, and Oddities Sold
In early 2025, Yuga Labs began narrowing its focus to concentrate on Otherside and BAYC. As part of this shift, the company sold several of its other NFT collections. The Meebits intellectual property was sold in February, followed by the transfer of CryptoPunks to a nonprofit dedicated to digital art preservation in May. That same month, the Moonbirds, Mythics, and Oddities collections were sold to the web3 gaming startup Orange Cap Games.
These moves align with Yuga Labs' goal of dedicating all resources to its primary projects. Otherside launched in April 2022 with the minting of 55,000 Otherdeeds. The initial sale generated high demand and caused significant congestion on the Ethereum network, prompting the company to issue over 90 ETH in refunds. Since then, Yuga Labs has released several major updates, including First Trip and Second Trip, which introduced new features and multiplayer functionality.
The company later partnered with Improbable to improve backend performance and avatar customization tools. In February 2025, Yuga Labs set a Guinness World Record during Project Dragon, a large-scale multiplayer test within Otherside. The event brought more than 2,100 users into a single server, demonstrating the platform's capacity for large-scale experiences. This test marked a key milestone in preparing the metaverse for persistent, always-on environments.
Otherside Metaverse Adds New AI Tools
2025 Roadmap and Final Thoughts
Yuga Labs plans to release Voyager 2.0 and provide full utility for Otherdeed holders before the end of 2025. The roadmap for 2026 includes the launch of a new system called Resources, which is expected to introduce features like land-based production, item crafting, and more complex economic gameplay.
Through these updates and structural changes, Yuga Labs continues to develop Otherside into a fully functional virtual world that blends gameplay, creativity, and blockchain-based ownership in a web3 ecosystem.
