What Layabox does

Beijing-based Layabox (北京蓝亚盒子科技有限公司, founded 2014 by Xie Chenghong) develops and operates a proprietary full-platform 3D engine (LayaAir) and a portfolio of complementary metaverse and content-creation products. The company describes itself as one of China's largest indigenous 3D engine providers, with LayaAir supporting 2D, 3D, VR, and AR development and one-time cross-platform publishing to Web, mini-games, Native APP, PC, and VR. The LayaAir 3.0 release (2023) integrates AIGC capabilities into the engine pipeline for AI-assisted 3D content, code, and image generation. The product portfolio extends beyond the core engine to include Layaverse (a consumer-grade lightweight metaverse co-creation platform launched November 2022, serving government, industrial, beauty, liquor, e-commerce, art, and cultural tourism deployments), LayaMe (a game UGC platform combining AIGC with mobile-based creator tooling), LayaMetaX (a mobile UGC creation tool), LayaIdea (an AI workflow for "one-person company" game production), and FairyGUI (a professional game UI solution acquired in 2021). An industrial-grade engine, LayaIND, is in development.

Layabox serves two distinct customer bases through a hybrid business model. The engine itself is open-source and free for developers, generating a community of over 1 million registered developers; revenue is captured downstream through paid customization, technical support, and an enterprise-facing 3D digital technology solutions business delivered through Key Account (KA), Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), and Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) models. The company reports 5,000+ enterprise customers, 100+ registered IP rights and patents, and a six-city operating footprint spanning Beijing (HQ and core technology), Chengdu (content production and customer service), Guangzhou (engine IDE), Taiyuan (technical support), Chengmai in Hainan (digital asset support), and Changsha (metaverse industrial park center). Named customers and partners span China's largest internet platforms (Tencent, Alibaba, ByteDance, Baidu, Bilibili, NetEase), consumer hardware OEMs (Huawei, Xiaomi, OPPO, vivo), government bodies (MIIT, Guangzhou Art Festival), and brand owners (Shiseido NARS, Wuliangye, Nankai University, Bazaar Art, National Grid). Layabox holds formal designations including Vice Chairman Unit of the MIIT Industrial Metaverse Collaborative Development Organization (2022) and Beijing "Specialized, Refined, Differential, Innovative" SME status.

Funding history includes five rounds — angel (2014), Series A (2016), Series A+ (2019), Series B (2021), and Series B+ (2022) — with all specific amounts undisclosed. Operating data (revenue, headcount beyond the 101-250 band, customer count by vertical, MRR/ARR) is not publicly disclosed, and the company remains privately held with no evidence of IPO preparation.

Name

Layabox

Legal name

北京蓝亚盒子科技有限公司

Website

https://layabox.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Layabox is a Beijing-based, privately held developer of LayaAir, an indigenous Chinese full-platform 3D engine, and a portfolio of metaverse and UGC creation products serving 1M+ developers, 5,000+ enterprise clients, and partners including Tencent, Alibaba, and Huawei.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

3D Engine Software & Metaverse Platform

NAICS

Software Publishers (5132)

akta.pro primary industry

Game Engines (General-Purpose & Real-Time 3D) (MPAFAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

3D Product/Explainer Animation (MPAHACAD), Outsourced Art/Audio Production Services (2D/3D, Animation, VFX, Audio/VO) (MPAFAKAM)

Keywords

• 3D engine technology
• Metaverse platforms
• Game development tools
• 3D content creation
• AIGC 3D engine

Headquarters

HQ city

Beijing

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 3D Engine Customization Services: LayaAir engine is open-source and free for developers; revenue generated from customer-specific technical customization services and paid support.
2. 3D Digital Technology Solutions (KA/SaaS/PaaS): Enterprise-focused 3D digital technology services including metaverse solutions delivered through Key Account (KA), Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), and Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) models targeting enterprise digital transformation needs.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Layabox (LAYABOX / 蓝亚盒子) develops and provides proprietary full-platform 3D engine technology (LayaAir) and metaverse content creation platforms (Layaverse, LayaMe, LayaIdea) for game developers, enterprises, and government organizations. The company sells its 3D engine open-source for free while generating revenue from enterprise customization services and SaaS/PaaS deployments of 3D digital transformation solutions across gaming, advertising, education, government, beauty, and cultural sectors.

Product overview

LAYABOX is a platform-plus-modules architecture providing a comprehensive 3D technology and metaverse ecosystem. The core product LayaAir serves as the foundational full-platform 3D engine with AIGC capabilities (version 3.0). This engine powers or integrates with specialized products including LayaMe (game UGC+AIGC platform), Layaverse (consumer metaverse platform), LayaIdea (AI-powered game workflow), and LayaMetaX (mobile UGC tool). The company also acquired FairyGUI for professional UI solutions and is developing LayaIND for industrial applications. All products share the common LayaAir technology foundation while targeting different market segments from indie game development to enterprise metaverse solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LayaAir: Full-platform open-source 3D engine supporting 2D/3D/VR/AR development with million-developer ecosystem
• LayaIdea
• Layaverse
• LayaMe
• LayaMetaX
• FairyGUI
• LayaIND

Products and services

• LayaAir 3D Engine Full-platform open-source 3D engine supporting 2D, 3D, VR and AR development with one-time development and multi-platform publishing to Web, mini-games, Native APP, PC, and VR. Serves game developers, enterprises, and creators across gaming, advertising, education, animation, metaverse, digital humans, digital twins, smart cities, industrial control, and simulation. Holds dominant position in China's Web3D open-source engine market with 1 million+ developer ecosystem.
• LayaIdea Game AI workflow platform targeting 'one-person company' game development with commercial-grade production goals. Connects creativity, development, testing, publishing, and operations across the full lifecycle. First implemented the 'interactive game playable ad' scenario with AI-generated commercial products from simple text prompts.
• Layaverse Consumer-grade lightweight metaverse co-creation platform with proprietary core technology enabling multi-industry digital transformation. Serves government, industrial, beauty, liquor, e-commerce, art, culture, and tourism sectors with co-creation tools and innovative platform governance mechanisms. Named customers include MIIT, Shiseido NARS, Nankai University, Wuliangye Group, and Bazaar Art.
• LayaMe Game UGC platform combining AIGC and user-generated content. Features mobile-first visual editor that lowers game creation barriers. Next-generation product uses deep AIGC integration allowing users to generate game materials and refined scenes through voice commands. Targets solo creators, indie studios, and game development.
• LayaMetaX Mobile UGC creation tool for metaverse content, enabling ordinary users to create metaverse content within 5 minutes. Features block-style mobile modeling, scene building, interactive rule definition, asset store, and collaborative development connected to professional engines.
• FairyGUI Editor Professional game UI solution with low entry barrier that allows planners and artists to independently produce production-level UI interfaces. Built-in branching and multi-language mechanisms with leading performance among similar products. Supports 10+ game engines covering mobile, web, and PC games.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500 billion+ RMB in industrial value created
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and moderate.

• Ministry of Industry and Information Technology - Industrial Metaverse Collaborative Development OrganizationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022LAYABOX serves as vice chairman unit of MIIT's Industrial Metaverse Collaborative Development Organization, contributing to national industrial metaverse standards development, governance frameworks, and industry collaboration initiatives.
• Shiseido (资生堂)minorOthersShiseido's NARS brand launched a virtual makeup island metaverse experience 'NARS玩妆岛' on the Layaverse platform, demonstrating metaverse applications for the beauty industry.
• Wuliangye Group (五粮液集团)minorOthersWuliangye Group deployed the Wuliangye W Planet metaverse platform on Layaverse, showcasing metaverse applications for the liquor and luxury goods industry.
• Nankai University (南开大学)minorOthersNankai University partnered with Layaverse for digital education and metaverse applications in the academic sector.
• Alibaba (阿里巴巴)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerStrategic ecosystem partnership for technology integration and market distribution, leveraging Alibaba's cloud infrastructure, e-commerce platforms, and enterprise ecosystem.
• Tencent (腾讯)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerStrategic partnership including game development using LayaAir engine, platform distribution, and ecosystem integration across Tencent's gaming and social platforms.
• ByteDance (字节跳动)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerStrategic partnership for content distribution and platform integration across ByteDance's short video, social media, and gaming ecosystems including Douyin/TikTok and Douyin Gaming.
• Baidu (百度)moderateTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partnership for AI integration and cloud platform integration, leveraging Baidu's AI and cloud infrastructure capabilities.
• Bilibili (哔哩哔哩)moderateGTM or Marketing PartnerStrategic content partnership with Bilibili's gaming and creator ecosystem for game development tools and content distribution.
• Huawei (华为)coreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology ecosystem partnership for platform integration with Huawei Cloud, AppGallery, and HarmonyOS ecosystem.
• NetEase (网易)moderateGTM or Marketing PartnerGaming industry partnership with NetEase's game development ecosystem and platform distribution.
• Xiaomi (小米)moderateTechnology or IntegrationTechnology and gaming ecosystem partnership with Xiaomi for device optimization, gaming platform integration, and content distribution.
• OPPOminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMobile platform distribution partnership through OPPO's app store and gaming ecosystem.
• vivominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMobile platform distribution partnership through vivo's app store and gaming ecosystem.
• SenseTime (商汤科技)moderateTechnology or IntegrationAI technology partnership for integrating computer vision and AI capabilities with LayaAir 3D engine for enhanced digital content creation.
• BlueFocus (蓝色光标)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarketing technology partnership for integrated digital marketing solutions combining 3D/metaverse content with advertising technology.
• Sanqi Mutual Entertainment (三七互娱)moderateGTM or Marketing PartnerGaming partnership for HTML5 game development using LayaAir engine for web and mini-game platforms.
• Dianhun Network (电魂网络)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerGaming partnership for game development and platform integration.
• Perfect World (完美世界)moderateGTM or Marketing PartnerGaming partnership for game development using LayaAir engine across multiple platforms.
• National Grid (国家电网)minorOthersIndustrial metaverse application partnership for digital twin, smart grid, and industrial training simulation solutions.
• Baiwan Tianxia (天下秀)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSocial media and creator economy partnership for metaverse platform development and content creator ecosystem.
• Ch豹移动 (猎豹移动)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMobile gaming and platform partnership.
• Tongwu Game (途游游戏)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCasual gaming partnership for mobile and web game development.
• Talking Cat (汤姆猫)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCasual gaming partnership for mobile game development.
• Zhangqu Technology (掌趣科技)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerGaming partnership for mobile and HTML5 game development.
• Yiqixiu (易企秀)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerEnterprise marketing technology partnership for H5 and interactive content creation.
• GoodFuture (好未来)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerEducation technology partnership for AI-powered educational content and virtual learning experiences.
• Bazaar Art (芭莎艺术)minorOthersCultural art partnership for virtual art exhibitions and digital art experiences on the Layaverse platform.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Cocos (Chukong Technologies): Cocos is the most direct Chinese competitor to LayaAir, providing cross-platform 2D/3D game engines (Cocos2d-x, Cocos Creator) widely adopted by Chinese mobile and mini-game developers — overlapping squarely in the Web/小游戏/3D engine segment Layabox dominates.
• Unity Software: Unity is the global leader in real-time 3D development platforms, competing head-to-head with LayaAir for cross-platform game and real-time 3D workloads across mobile, web, and emerging XR use cases.
• Epic Games (Unreal Engine): Unreal Engine is the global high-end 3D engine used in AAA games, virtual production, and industrial simulation — competing with LayaAir for enterprise 3D workloads and increasingly for AIGC-integrated authoring.
• Roblox Corporation: Roblox operates the world's largest UGC game ecosystem with a creator-economy flywheel that mirrors what LayaMe targets — Chinese indie creators and 'one-person studios' producing games via simplified tooling.
• The Sandbox: The Sandbox is a UGC metaverse platform with no-code creation tools and a creator-monetization model that closely parallels the Layaverse and LayaMe value propositions.

Emerging players

• Decentraland Foundation: Decentraland is an open metaverse platform with virtual land and user-created experiences, comparable to Layaverse's multi-vertical metaverse deployments with brands and governments.

Broad incumbents

• Tencent (WeGame platform): Tencent operates WeGame, China's largest PC game distribution platform, and is both a core partner and broader incumbent — building proprietary engines and funding 3D engine investments that compete with LayaAir's domestic position.
• NetEase Games: NetEase operates multiple proprietary game engines (NeoX, Messiah) for its own titles and is a moderate-tier LayaAir partner — representing a vertically-integrated competitor that could substitute internally for Layabox.
• Meta (Horizon Worlds): Meta's Horizon Worlds is a consumer-grade UGC metaverse platform with massive R&D resources, providing a global benchmark for the kind of creator-friendly metaverse Layaverse is building for the Chinese market.
• Microsoft (Microsoft Game Stack / Azure PlayFab): Microsoft's Azure PlayFab and cloud gaming infrastructure provide backend tooling for game studios competing with Layabox's enterprise KA/SaaS/PaaS 3D digital solutions stack.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/layabox

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Layabox