Metaverse startup, Improbable, reported an 85% reduction in losses, crediting its intensified focus on creating metaverse experiences, according to a report from CNBC. 

The Deets

• Improbable's revenue improved to $95 million. 
• The company cut its fiscal losses by 85%. 
• CEO Herman Narula told CNBC it was Improbable's "best financial year" yet. 
• Advancements in AI enabled the firm to produce more with smaller team. 

The Bulk 

Improbable made significant strides in 2022 by shifting its attention towards the metaverse, most notably in collaboration with Yuga Labs and the development of the Otherside Metaverse.

In line with its metaverse vision, Improbable introduced MSquared - designed to be a collection of interoperable web3 metaverses. Thanks to a separate funding round, MSquared raised $150 million. Unlike traditional platforms, MSquared offers cloud streaming accessibility, eliminating the need for software downloads. This innovative approach has garnered attention from significant names, like Major League Baseball (MLB), resulting in partnerships for unique virtual experiences.

🎤 Founder Feedback

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Yuga Labs is joining forces with new global creative and technical partners to accelerate the development of Otherside, its interoperable metaverse. 

The Deets

• Core Partnerships: Hadean focuses on high-density simulation and networking, AccelByte delivers a scalable backend for live game services, Bad Rhino Studios provides game development expertise, and Faraway focuses on engaging gameplay.
• OMA3 Connection: Yuga Labs joins the board of directors for OMA3, a coalition of web3 metaverse platform creators.
• Community Focus: Otherside is being developed with real-time feedback from creators and the community.
• Interoperability: Yuga Labs emphasizes the importance of interoperable digital assets and experiences for the metaverse's future.

The Bulk

Yuga Labs announced strategic partnerships to expedite the development of the Otherside Metaverse. The Otherside aims to be a game-changer for creators and players alike, offering a platform for immersive experiences across various devices.

Key among these partnerships is spatial tech firm Hadean, which focuses on delivering high-density simulations and networking solutions. AccelByte brings to the table its scalable backend platform designed for live game services. Bad Rhino Studios, known for its experienced game developers, artists, and engineers, will aid in creating dynamic and social virtual experiences. Lastly, Faraway will be contributing to crafting moment-to-moment, engaging gameplay.

Additionally, Yuga Labs has joined the board of directors for OMA3, a coalition that is geared towards interoperability in the metaverse. 

❗Why It Matters

The new strategic partnerships signify a major commitment from Yuga Labs to The Otherside and the metaverse as a whole. Assembling a team of experts in technology and gaming could make The Otherside a hub for creative and social experiences in the metaverse.

🎤Founder Feedback

🔜 What's Next?

Yuga Labs promises to build Otherside in public, revealing demos and behind-the-scenes looks, fine-tuned by community input. The project announced yesterday that its Legends of the Mara open beta would launch on Sept. 26. 

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Yuga Labs and Faraway are joining forces to release an open beta for Legends of the Mara (LoTM), including a Unity-based expansion built with community feedback.

The Deets

• The open beta aims to involve the community for gameplay feedback.
• Gamers will unlock "Otherdeed" powers and earn future rewards.
• Players can hatch Vessels and gather sediment from their deed in this beta version.
• More capabilities to roll out as the full launch approaches.

The Bulk

In a noteworthy collaboration, Yuga Labs and Faraway are setting the stage for Legends of the Mara (LoTM). This open beta release isn't just a teaser; it's an invitation for community engagement.

The open beta is designed for players to get acquainted with the new features like "Otherdeed" powers. Players can not only explore but can also gather rewards that will become relevant in future expansions of LoTM. Furthermore, gamers can expect to hatch their vessels and gather sediment from their Otherdeed NFTs. 

The beta version is just the beginning. Yuga Labs and Faraway have plans to unveil more capabilities as they gear up for the full launch. 

❗Why It Matters

Legends of the Mara has been billed as a major next step for Yuga Labs and particularly the Otherside Metaverse, however news of its advancements have been quiet for most of this year. Until now....

The short-term outlook for the Otherside Metaverse may well rest on this open beta launch. 

📊 By the Numbers

Otherdeeds are up more than 20% in the last week to 0.62 ETH. 

🧠 Learn More 

• Key Strategies for Legends of the Mara

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Sotheby's was added as a defendant to a lawsuit brought by Bored Ape Yacht Club collectors, alleging that the auction house participated in a "misleading promotion" of the NFTs to deceive investors, according to a first report from The Art Newspaper. 

The Deets

• A class-action lawsuit was filed in California against Yuga Labs, Sotheby's added in the amendment.
• The lawsuit claims the auction house endorsed the BAYC NFTs, leading to an artificial value inflation.
• Sotheby's previously auctioned 101 Bored Ape NFTs for $24 million in 2021. 
• The complaint indicates that the cryptocurrency exchange FTX, is not a traditional collector as suggested by Sotheby's representative.

The Bulk

Sotheby’s has been added as a defendant in a lawsuit regarding the deceptive promotion of Bored Ape Yacht Club NFTs. This comes in light of the auction where Sotheby’s sold 101 of these NFTs at $24 million, surpassing the pre-sale estimation of $12 to $18 million in 2021. The lawsuit suggests that this sale was instrumental in unjustly elevating the value perception of the NFTs.

The core contention is that Sotheby’s, through this sale and subsequent statements, gave Yuga Labs - the creators of the BAYC NFTs, an undue sense of authenticity among traditional collectors. Max Moore from Sotheby’s, after the sale, hinted that a traditional collector had acquired the NFTs.

However, the lawsuit contradicts this, stating that FTX, a cryptocurrency exchange, was the actual buyer. This alleged misrepresentation, as per the plaintiffs, erroneously signaled that BAYC NFTs had garnered mainstream traction.

🎤 Community Quotes

Sotheby's representatives have called the allegations "baseless." 

🧐 Wait, What? 

The Sotheby's inclusion comes as an amendment to a class action suit that first spotlighted Yuga Labs and celebrities and their promotion of Bored Ape Yacht Club. 

For more web3 and NFT news, visit the Lucky Trader newsfeed.

Bicycle Playing Cards officially unveiled the Bored Ape Community Playing Card Collection, featuring Bored Apes from its 1227CastingCall.

The Deets

• Limited Edition: Decks available between December 23 and February 24 on presale.
• Diverse Selection: Each card showcases a Bored Ape from the casting call, with Jokers chosen via a Twitter vote.
• Exclusive Designs: Two unique decks available: Golden Banana and Silver Banana, with unique tuck cases for each Ape.
• Price Points: Both decks priced at $49.99, with a special "Ape Hundred" 3-pack set available.

The Bulk

Bicycle Playing Cards bridged a century-old tradition with the modern NFT movement with its collaboration with the Bored Ape Yacht Club. The Bored Ape Community Playing Card Collection showcases Bored Apes from the community-wide 1227CastingCall. As a result of an overwhelming response to the casting call, Bicycle expanded its design to include 57 Apes on the tuck cases, as opposed to an initial plan to include its Ape No. 1227. 

The collaboration has birthed two limited-edition decks: the Golden Banana, exclusive to Bored Ape communities and Bicycle NFT holders, and the Silver Banana, available to the general public while stocks last. Both decks are priced at $49.99. For avid collectors, Bicycle offers an "Ape Hundred" 3-pack set, with the Golden Banana Collection priced at $199.99 and the Silver Banana Collection at double the price.

Masha Ievseieva, Vice President of North America Marketing and Global Insights, emphasized the unique nature of the collaboration: "The future of collecting is here! Every tuck case will be unique and features every one of the 57 apes on unique backgrounds."

💰 Money Talks

Decks are retailing at $49.99, with limited-edition 3-pack sets priced from $199.99 for the Golden Banana Collection, indicating a substantial revenue potential given the BAYC's widespread popularity.

🎤 Founder Feedback

🔜 What's Next?

Holders of Bored Ape Yacht Club NFTs featured in the collection can anticipate a unique Golden Banana deck with a Joker NFT resembling their Bored Ape.

🎬 Take Action 

Want to get your hands on a Silver Banana Deck? You can purchase them here for $49.99 while supplies last. 

For more web3 and NFT news, visit the Lucky Trader newsfeed.

nWay and Animoca Brands revealed Wreck League, a hybrid Web3/Web2 fighting game merging craftmanship, competition, and thrill, in collaboration with Yuga Labs. 

The Deets

• Wreck League is a groundbreaking multiplayer game allowing players to create, own, and fight with their Mechs.
• More than 1.5 quadrillion possible Mech combinations present an almost infinite roster of fighters.
• Holders of Bored Ape Yacht Club, Mutant Ape Yacht Club, Bored Ape Kennel Club, and Otherside Kodas can claim a free fully constructed Founders Mech that cannot be deconstructed.
• Players collect NFT-based Mech Parts to create fully customizable, unique Mech character NFTs.
• A free-to-play version of the game is also planned, aiming to bridge the gap between the web3 and web2 gaming communities.

The Bulk

Launching a significant evolution in the realm of competitive multiplayer games, nWay's Wreck League invites players to generate their own mech fighters, offering over 1.5 quadrillion possible unique combinations.

The inaugural season will incorporate Yuga Labs collections, allowing holders of the aforementioned collections to utilize "rare Yugaverse Mechs" to boost gameplay and exclusivity. This approach provides a bridge between the realms of traditional gaming and NFTs, offering a unique blend of customization, ownership, and gameplay.

In Wreck League, creators, owners, and skilled players form competitive teams, encouraging a fusion of creativity and tactical gameplay. Each Mech is composed of 10 Mech Parts NFTs, fostering endless customization possibilities and making each Mech a unique entity on the battlefield.

Alongside the web3 version, nWay also plans a free-to-play Web2 version of Wreck League. While mirroring the web3 version's core gameplay, it will incorporate features like daily missions and a battle pass, creating a bridge between the web3 and web2 gaming communities.

🎤 Founder Feedback

🎬 Take Action

Stay in the loop and register for the Wreck League Allowlist on its official website. Users must KYC for allowlist access. 

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Yuga Labs is acquiring Roar Studios, merging gaming, social media, and metaverse expertise.

The Deets

• Roar Studios develops ROAR, a real-time media experience platform for artists and fans
• Roar’s tech and expertise will boost Otherside, Yuga’s metaverse project
• Roar's founder, Eric Reid, will become the General Manager of Otherside
• Reid's two-decade experience in film, TV, and music content distribution will enrich Yuga's leadership team

The Bulk

Yuga Labs is now broadening its horizons by acquiring Roar Studios. Roar Studios is known for ROAR, an innovative real-time platform where artists and fans can interact, collaborate, and compete from anywhere in the world.

Roar Studios, with its team of skilled audio, game, and AI engineers, has managed to carve out a unique product category in the metaverse. By blending innovative proprietary technology with established MMO game and platform systems, they've crafted a semi-autonomous music and entertainment world that's driven by individual content creators and community consensus.

As Yuga Labs moves forward with the development of Otherside, an interoperable metaverse, Roar Studios' cutting-edge technology, specialized skills, and leadership will be an invaluable asset.

Following the acquisition, Roar Studios' Founder and CEO, Eric Reid, is set to join Yuga as the General Manager of Otherside. Drawing on his extensive experience in creating and distributing content for global audiences, Reid will work in conjunction with Yuga's seasoned executive team to advance the vision and production of the platform.

🖼️ The Big Picture

The collaboration of Yuga Labs and Roar Studios paves the way for a transformative, community-driven media experience within the metaverse, fostering creative content creation and deeper social connections.

🎤 Founder Feedback

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Bored Ape Yacht Club is pausing the ApeFest ticket claim process due to a technical issue with tokenproof that impacted a significant number of Apes trying to join the queue. 

 The Deets

• ApeFest Ticket Claim: Paused temporarily.
• Technical Issue: Long API calls during the authentication process causing timeouts and rejection messages.
• The Plan: Tokenproof will optimize checks for Apes, delegation, staking, collateralization, and asset queries to ensure efficiency and scalability for future events.
• Apologies: Tokenproof's founder expressed regret and appreciation for feedback, assuring a more successful relaunch.

The Bulk

The highly anticipated ApeFest event, operated by tokenproof, encountered a significant setback when a significant number of Apes faced difficulty entering the ticketing queue. The team identified the root cause as long API calls made during the authentication process, leading to inefficient performance and frustrating outcomes for some users.

Tokenproof's founder addressed the issue, admitting the situation was "shitty and embarrassing." However, the team has analyzed what went wrong and devised a comprehensive plan to improve the process. The upcoming changes include optimizing checks for apes, delegation, staking, collateralization, and asset queries, ensuring smoother future ticketing experiences.

The founder acknowledged the frustration of those who had to wait and welcomed the feedback, vowing to learn from the experience and ensure a seamless relaunch. The company is committed to scaling infrastructure effectively to handle high traffic and prevent similar issues in the future.

Stay tuned for updates as Tokenproof prepares to re-launch ApeFest with enhanced efficiency and an unforgettable experience for all attendees.

🎤 Founder Feedback

🔜 What's Next?

BAYC aims to provide a 48-hour notice before ticketing reopens, giving Apes ample time to prepare for the relaunch. Keep an eye out for updates and announcements, as the team plans to celebrate the successful relaunch with a vibrant event in Hong Kong.

For more web3 and NFT news, visit the Lucky Trader newsfeed.

ApeFest Hong Kong ticket claim opens this Wednesday, July 26 at 8:00 p.m. ET. 

The Deets

• ApeFest Hong Kong: A global event from November 3-5, 2023
• Two options: Join in Hong Kong or participate online
• Tickets: Free for Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) and Mutant Ape Yacht Club (MAYC) holders, $269 for additional guests
• Three-day event: Includes meetups, city-wide experiences, new merchandise, and a big surprise night

The Bulk

ApeFest, the must-attend event for Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) and Mutant Ape Yacht Club (MAYC) holders, is going global with an event in Hong Kong this year. Spread over three days from November 3-5, 2023, the event promises to be full of meetups, community events, new merchandise, and a big surprise night, providing a city-wide experience for all participants.

Ticketing for ApeFest opens on July 26 at 8:00 p.m. ET (July 27 at 8:00 a.m. HKT) and will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. The tickets are free for BAYC and MAYC holders, but they’ll need to pay a $169 refundable deposit upon claiming their tickets. This deposit will be returned once the holders are scanned in during ApeFest.

Alongside the physical event in Hong Kong, there will also be opportunities for apes to participate virtually. Furthermore, the BAYC community is planning to host real-life events globally for those who can't make it to Hong Kong.

💰 Money Talks

BAYC and MAYC holders can attend the event for free, only needing to make a refundable deposit of $169. Additional guest tickets are available for purchase at $269 each.

🎬 Take Action

Interested in attending ApeFest Hong Kong? Get your wallets ready and be prepared to claim your ticket on the specified date. Make sure you have the tokenproof app downloaded and connected to the wallet with your BAYC or MAYC.

For more web3 and NFT news, visit the Lucky Trader newsfeed.

Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) officially unveiled "Made By Apes," a first-of-its-kind on-chain licensing platform, to its community of builders in partnership with SaaSy Labs.

The Deets

• Made By Apes: an on-chain licensing platform for BAYC and MAYC holders
• Provides a unique license number for businesses and products
• Aims to verify and distinguish authentic community-made products
• Launch partners include community brands like Ape Beverages, Bored Brewing Co., and more

The Bulk

The Bored Ape Yacht Club, one of the most influential NFT projects in the space, has launched a new licensing platform called Made By Apes. Developed in partnership with SaaSy Labs, the initiative gives Apes the ability to request a license, register their businesses or products, and receive a unique license number on the Made by Apes platform.

The move is aimed at unifying and verifying genuine products made by BAYC and Mutant Ape Yacht Club (MAYC) holders. The Bored Ape Yacht Club community has birthed a staggering number of projects that feature Ape IP since its inception two years ago. With Made By Apes, these community contributions can now be recognized and authenticated on-chain, fostering a network of genuine builders.

The platform was rigorously pressure tested with the help of several launch partners, all community brands, who've been pioneering the space. These partners include Ape Beverages, Bored Brewing Co., Ladies of BAYC, and others, representing a small fraction of the BAYC story.

🎤 Project Prose

🔜 What's Next?

The Bored Ape Yacht Club plans to launch the Bodega soon, a platform which will display all active Made by Ape licenses. Registering for a license today means becoming a founding part of the Made by Apes story.

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