New Social Hub Opens in Otherside
Yuga Labs, the company behind Bored Ape Yacht Club, has launched Koda Nexus in its Otherside metaverse. The platform went live on November 12, 2025, marking what co-founder Greg Solano described as a “persistent city-style hub” for the digital world. It’s designed to serve as a central gathering point between adventures across Otherside’s various worlds.
The Nexus features multiple districts to explore, with an ancient temple at its center. There’s also what Solano calls an “ever-shifting set of challenges and trials” that will keep the experience fresh for returning visitors. I think this approach makes sense for building long-term engagement rather than just being a one-time destination.
Accessibility and Integration Features
What’s interesting about the Nexus is how it handles user access. People can log in using their X (formerly Twitter) accounts or email addresses, but behind the scenes, they receive a self-custodied wallet automatically. This seems like a smart way to lower barriers for newcomers while still maintaining proper Web3 principles.
The platform connects directly to Apechain and uses Apecoin for native on-chain ownership of items, avatars, badges, and rewards. This integration means that everything you acquire in the Nexus truly belongs to you on the blockchain level. Though I wonder how smoothly this will work for people completely new to crypto concepts.
Partner Content and Future Plans
Yuga Labs has already lined up several partnerships for the Nexus, including collaborations with Amazon and artist Daniel Arsham. There are also queued game experiences like Bathroom Blitz and Outbreak waiting in the wings. The company seems to be positioning this as more than just a social space—it’s becoming a launchpad for various experiences within the Otherside ecosystem.
Solano emphasized that the platform focuses on crypto-native utilities including permissionless rails, instant payments, and programmable royalties. Avatars and experiences use open standards, which should theoretically make it easier for different Web3 communities to participate. Though whether this actually works in practice remains to be seen.
Broader Implications
This launch represents Yuga Labs’ continued effort to build out the Otherside metaverse beyond just land ownership and occasional events. By creating a persistent social hub, they’re trying to establish a reason for people to return regularly rather than just visiting for specific drops or announcements.
The approach of hiding the wallet complexity while still providing true ownership could be significant for wider adoption. If executed well, it might show other projects how to bridge the gap between traditional web users and Web3 functionality without overwhelming newcomers.
Still, the success will depend on whether the content and experiences within the Nexus can maintain user interest over time. A beautiful space with great technology means little if people don’t have compelling reasons to keep coming back.
