Yuga Labs accelerates Otherside plan
Nonfungible token (NFT) conglomerate Yuga Labs has agreed to acquire the metaverse-building startup Roar Studios as Yuga looks to bolster its Otherside metaverse.
Yuga tweeted the news on July 31 saying the impending acquisition was to “execute our expansive vision” for Otherside.
An accompanying release said Roar Studios’ founder and chief Eric Reid will join Yuga as the general manager of Otherside, charged with leading the development and production of the metaverse.
We are proud to announce Yuga Labs is acquiring Roar Studios, a music and metaverse startup led by long-time entertainment Executive, Eric Reid, to execute our expansive vision for @OthersideMeta.
For more, read here: https://t.co/Ll9OMrSwEP. pic.twitter.com/o2FankWun2
— Yuga Labs (@yugalabs) July 31, 2023
Yuga is also nabbing audio, game and artificial intelligence engineers from Roar’s team which is 14 strong according to LinkedIn.
Otherside has only been glimpsed through a handful of early access demos which started in August 2022 alongside a more recent “vibe check.” It’s unknown when the project will officially launch.
Earlier today we brought together a small focus group of 40 Voyagers in LA to delve into Otherside for a vibe check. pic.twitter.com/fXpyUk81w8
— Othersidemeta (@OthersideMeta) July 28, 2023
In mid-July Yuga chief Daniel Alegre said it’s still hard at work building Otherside saying the project will take time as it’s “audacious.”
Yuga also scooped up the CryptoPunks and Meebits NFT collections in March 2022 and in November 2022 it acquired the Beeple-founded NFT game 10KTF.
Etihad NFTs to offer priority check-in, lounge access
Abu Dhabi-based airline Etihad will soon take off with an NFT staking loyalty program called “Horizon Club” and is expanding its current NFT collection.
On Aug. 1, 300 new NFTs will be added to Etihad’s EY-ZERO1 collection, which will offer benefits like priority check-in, lounge access in Abu Dhabi and the ability to stake the NFT to earn flight…
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