- Yuga Labs acquires Improbable’s Unreal Engine-based developer platform to enhance Otherside’s metaverse project.
- The acquisition is seen as a major development to bolster Yuga Labs’ position in the metaverse market.
- The deal includes a perpetual license for Improbable’s high concurrency technology, enabling Yuga Labs to integrate the technology in-house.
As the metaverse continues to capture the imagination of gamers, investors, and tech enthusiasts, Yuga Labs, the Web3 company behind the popular Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) NFT collection, is reinforcing its dedication to Otherside with an ambitious in-house development strategy that promises to take the project to new heights.
By acquiring the Unreal Creator Platform and talent from Improbable’s Imporium team, Yuga Labs is taking a giant leap forward in its quest to create immersive, next-generation experiences. This strategic deal brings crucial technology and expertise in-house and also signals a new era of innovation and growth of Otherside, solidifying Yuga Labs’ position as a trailblazer in the metaverse space.
Yuga Labs Takes Control of Metaverse Development
Yuga Labs is reportedly strengthening its position in the metaverse by acquiring the Unreal Creator Platform and skilled professionals from Improbable. This development further solidifies Otherside’s foundation and future prospects.
Significantly, the agreement encompasses a perpetual license to Improbable’s high-concurrency technology for Otherside, plus the transition of key engineer and development talent from Improbable to Yuga Labs. Although the deal’s volume remains undisclosed, experts think that the move is a smart play by Yuga Labs, especially with the crypto market on the mend. Commenting on this strategic move, Greg Solano, Founder & CEO at Yuga Labs, shared an X post,
“Yuga Labs has acquired the Imporium content team and the Unreal Creator Platform. We’re bringing all the tech and talent under one roof and committing unrestricted development to Otherside.”
With this move, Yuga Labs will gain direct control over key Otherside elements, encompassing a customized Unreal Engine platform, development tools for immersive worlds, and the specialized talent to leverage them. This change is designed to be seamless for both developers and players, with Otherside retaining its current stability while gaining from accelerated and customized development under Yuga Labs’ guidance. Solano added,
“Until now, core Otherside development has been spread across multiple companies. Today, we’re changing that: Yuga Labs has acquired the Imporium content team and the Unreal Creator Platform from Improbable. We’re bringing all the tech and talent under one roof and committing unrestricted development to Otherside.”
Founded in 2021, Yuga Labs is a major player in the NFT market, with a peak valuation of over $4 billion. Its Otherside metaverse, launched in 2022, offers a virtual world where users can own land and create NFT-based experiences, built on Improbable’s platform, leveraging Epic Games’ Unreal Engine.
“We are thrilled to see a great exit for our Imporium venture, who are now joining forces with Yuga Labs to continue their world-class work building Otherside,” stated Herman Narula, CEO of Improbable. “We will continue to provide both the high-concurrency technology and open standards like MML to Otherside for years to come, and look forward to seeing what the development team creates by working even more closely with Yuga.”
The metaverse sector saw a 25% surge in 2025, driven by Web3 gaming and decentralised economies. At the same time, the NFT market has seen a significant decline in the year, as Times of Blockchain reported yesterday. The NFT market dropped by about 72% in December, reaching $2.5 billion from January’s $9.2 billion peak. Top collectables, including Yuga Labs’ Bored Ape Yacht Club, have seen significant downturns, especially towards the end of 2025. These NFTs have plummeted by 12% to 28% over the past 30 days.
