Founded by a team of Unity veterans in 2020, YAHAHA is a new kind of social entertainment platform, which offers every user the opportunity to create and play their own part and create their own space in the Metaverse.
Headquartered in Finland, the company secured an investment of $50 million in January 2022 to ‘democratise 3D content creation’.
YAHAHA is now inviting ‘people with a creative mind’ – developers and players alike – to be a part of its early exclusive insiders’ group, ahead of its alpha launch in Europe and North America in March, when unique IDs can be reserved
These digital pioneers will help the ongoing development of YAHAHA, by testing the platform and creating their own virtual online community.
Creators are invited to join the platform’s Discord channel to secure a unique YAHAHA username and join the early exclusive insiders’ group.
YAHAHA is adopting a ‘no-code’ approach to its 3D content creation and aims to create an inclusive community for developers, artists and players alike.
What is YAHAHA?
YAHAHA is a new user-generated content (UGC) social platform, in which creators and players will come together to combine virtual and real-world experiences – a world that will be created by users for users.
Ushering in the next generation of online, shared social entertainment, YAHAHA aims to unify the creator and player experiences. By joining the early exclusive insiders’ group, users can secure their own custom username and be the first to test YAHAHA. Anyone with a creative mind can become a digital pioneer, building this new virtual frontier.
Once in YAHAHA, everyone, no matter their level of knowledge, will be able to test the platform, creating a universe of fun social experiences and paving the way for others in the future.
Users can hang out, explore social environments, play games or dive into the simple, fun and free to use tools themselves to design something of their own. Whether they are a gamer who wants to create content or a hobbyist that loves creating, YAHAHA has a place for everyone, and they can help to build this latest corner of the metaverse.
YAHAHA’s vision is to enable the creation of 3D virtual landscapes where friends can come together to create, share, collaborate and play.
What users can expect from YAHAHA
Like TikTok did for video creation, YAHAHA is on a mission to democratise 3D content creation – making it accessible to anyone creative. With an interactive studio tool, free templates, models and examples available to use, tutorials, and peer-to-peer feedback, it’s easy to unleash creativity. From giving creators the freedom to distribute their content, to offering users the chance to spend time with friends in new and exciting worlds created by fellow players, YAHAHA will have it all. If you build it, they can play it. The only limit is imagination.
The initial focus will be Europe, but later in the year, the product will be available worldwide through an official release. The platform is made up of the following components:
YAHAHA Studio
This 3D creator tool enables users to build content, games and worlds using existing assets from the YAHAHA asset library with little or no coding experience. Several gameplay components will be provided to help new creators to bring their imagination to life.
The goal is to make it as easy as drag and drop or leveraging templates to make something new. YAHAHA is there to support and guide users through the learning curve. Creators are supported with clear tutorials, prompt feedback and constant iteration, helping complete beginners to create games, content and environments.
YAHAHA will have a place for those with an interest in coding too. Lua scripts will be provided at a later stage to allow creators to better customise the gameplay experience.
After creating content, users will be able to save and publish it. This will send their creation to the YAHAHA cross-platform application on mobile and PC.
The YAHAHA App
YAHAHA is available to use for free on mobile and PC. Within the mobile and PC app, users can come together across platforms to experience and enjoy YAHAHA’s virtual social experiences. This will include digital worlds and games made by users as well as existing YAHAHA content, alongside relaxing social areas, with a variety of control schemes available.
Within the PC app, as well as socialising, creators are also able to use the studio tool to build content, to manage their creations and to publish any games or environments they have made.
Once the content is published, YAHAHA users around the world can play and enjoy it. In the future, a monetisation model will be added, making it easy for creators to be rewarded for their efforts.
YAHAHA will also introduce further elements this year, including personalised avatars. Users will be able to create their own digital avatar.
Join The Metaverse
YAHAHA’s early access programme opens in March, for interested developers and creators to become metaverse pioneers. They will be able to test the platform, give feedback and play a vital part in creating this new virtual world. Staggered content releases will also take place throughout 2022, unlocking new features and capabilities.
Join the YAHAHA Discord channel to secure a unique YAHAHA username and join the early exclusive insiders’ group.
Brian has been working in the games industry since the mid-1990s, when he joined the legendary studio DMA Design, as a writer on the original Grand Theft Auto. Since then he's worked with major publishers, founded his own digital agency, and the Scottish Games Network. At various times he's worked as a journalist, editor, narrative designer, lecturer, executive producer, and director.
