Alpha Seasons are testing events whereby The Sandbox collects community feedback to determine what changes to make or which new features to develop.
Occasionally, The Sandbox launches Alpha Seasons, which are limited time multi-week events where players can visit new Experiences over time and have an opportunity to participate in Play & Earn mechanics.
Each Alpha Season has been different as The Sandbox has introduced more features.
Access
Today, everyone can play! Each Alpha Season has gradually opened up more ways to play and earn rewards. An article is released to announce when a Season will begin and end, with all of the necessary details. The Sandbox website also directs players while a season is open.
Players see progression, raffle results, and claim rewards via The Sandbox website.
The Sandbox is constantly iterating as it applies feedback from the community, so leveling and reward systems may change at any time.
Seasonal Leveling
During limited periods, players complete quests across many Experiences to earn Ethos Points (EP) and level up.
Quest data and EP are tracked for a leaderboard with additional rewards.
Rewards
The more you play and level up, the more you are eligible to earn and claim. You may even get access to exclusive gameplay where you can earn bonus rewards.
Unlock the most rewards with an Alpha Pass. If you own an avatar or LAND, you may even earn additional rewards during a Season.
The Sandbox Alpha Passes have been available through raffles by The Sandbox, distributed by Partners, and purchase. Alpha Season 4 introduced direct purchase from the Marketplace.
The Sandbox also launches limited-time Events in the metaverse with specific rewards. These are sometimes monthly Events by The Sandbox or Events and rewards offered by The Sandbox Game's Partners.
Access
Some Events may require ownership of certain NFTs, such as an Avatar from a Partner's collection, in order to play an Experience and earn rewards.
If there are any events currently running, you can access them by clicking the Events link on the left-hand menu of The Sandbox website.
On the Events page, you will see a list of the currently active events. You can then select an event to see more information about it, such as what the event is about, what potential rewards there are, and your progression towards completing that event.
Avatar Transformation Events
What Are Avatar Transformation Events?
Avatar Transformation Events are unique, time-limited events in The Sandbox that allow players to temporarily transform one of their owned avatars into a different one.
These events introduce a dynamic gameplay mechanic, often involving the selection of a "team" that can influence both the final reward and, in some cases, the concluding experience of the event.
How Do Avatar Transformation Events Work?
During an Avatar Transformation Event, players must acquire a special burnable NFT. This NFT is usually purchased, though on occasion, certain holders—such as LAND or official collection Avatar owners—may receive one as a giveaway.
Once you have acquired the burnable NFT, follow these steps to participate in the transformation event:
Visit the relevant event webpage.
Burn the NFT to temporarily transform an official collection avatar of your choice.
Once your avatar is transformed:
You will gain access to reward pools that require avatar transformation, provided you meet other eligibility requirements (such as passing KYC verification).
You can use your transformed avatar in the Avatar Transformation Event as well as any other available experiences.
If the event includes a team-based voting system, your transformation will count as a vote for a specific team, influencing the final event rewards and potentially the event's outcome. The team assigned often depends on the burnable NFT you choose to use.
Your avatar will automatically revert to its original form once the event concludes.
Exclusive Rewards
Some Avatar Transformation Events feature rewards influenced by:
The total number of transformed avatars.
The team that wins the event.
If a SAND reward is included, the overall reward pool may increase as more avatars undergo transformation. However, not all transformation events will offer this mechanic. Always check the event’s official webpage for specific reward details. For example, during Alpha Season 4, The Sandbox hosted an educational Avatar Transformation Event designed to introduce new players to transformation mechanics.
Unless otherwise stated, you can burn multiple NFTs and transform multiple avatars, as long as they meet eligibility criteria (see "Avatar Limitations" below). The more avatars you transform, the higher your share of the SAND reward pool - if there is one - will be.
The image below illustrates a past Avatar Transformation Event in partnership with The Smurfs. Players could choose to burn either a "Nice" or "Wicked" gift, casting a vote for Team Smurfs or Team Gargamel.
Avatar Limitations
The following avatars cannot be transformed during Avatar Transformation Events:
Avatars not part of an official collection in The Sandbox.
Custom player-made avatars and User-Generated Content (UGC) avatars are not eligible for transformation.
Older avatars on the Ethereum chain or using the ERC-1155 token standard.
The avatar must be on the Polygon chain and adhere to the ERC-721 token standard.
You can check an avatar’s blockchain details using blockchain explorers (such as Polygonscan) or NFT marketplaces (such as OpenSea).
Avatars that already possess a transformation mechanic.
It is not possible to apply an additional transformation to an avatar that already includes this feature.
For instance, the Agoria Avatar Collection has an inherent transformation mechanic that alternates between day and night variants, preventing it from participating in transformation events.
If you are unsure whether your avatar qualifies for transformation, especially before making a purchase, please contact our support team for assistance.
See FAQs: Marketplace for general FAQs about transactions on The Sandbox website.
Rewards for Playing and Holding
Some, but not necessarily all, Seasons and Events will offer a variety of rewards to players.
The Sandbox also offers special rewards to community members who continue participating in The Sandbox, whether they hold specific NFTs over time, earn specific Memorabilia Badges from prior events, or own LAND over time.
Here are a few examples of rewards that may be offered:
SAND Tokens
For completing the event requirements.
For completing event requirements while holding particular NFTs.
For completing social challenges.
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs)
For completing the event requirements.
For completing event requirements while holding particular NFTs.
For completing social challenges.
To access exclusive gameplay.
Mystery Boxes
For completing the event requirements.
For completing event requirements while holding particular NFTs.
