Sugartown, the web3 playground that started life under Zynga's wing, has now dropped full details for the long-awaited CORES NFT mint. Set to kick off on May 13, the event marks a major step for the growing platform, which now runs under D20 Labs. 

According to the team, CORES are more than just digital collectibles—they're the key to unlocking the full Sugartown experience, from exclusive games to evolving rewards. There are 9,999 up for grabs, each priced at 0.069 ETH (about $169).

Let's break down the schedule, mint phases, and what these NFTs actually do.

The Sugartown CORES Mint: Dates, Phases & How to Get In

The mint is split into four main phases across two days:

Tuesday, May 13

  • Phase 1 – ORA Holders Free Mint (8:00 AM–2:00 PM ET) If you hold ORAs, you're in luck. You'll get one free CORE NFT for every three ORAs you own. A snapshot will be taken just before mint kicks off, so make sure they're in your wallet.
  • Phase 2 – ORA Holders Paid Mint (2:00 PM–8:00 AM ET) After the free phase, ORA holders can buy up to two CORES, plus two more for every three additional ORAs. This phase is open for 18 hours. 

Wednesday, May 14

  • Phase 3 – Whitelist FCFS (12:00 PM–1:00 PM ET) Now this is a fast one: just an hour for whitelist users to mint, capped at two CORES per wallet. First come, first served. If you're whitelisted, check your eligibility at mint.sugar.town.
  • Phase 4 – Public Raffle (2:00 PM–12:00 PM ET, 22 hours) This final phase is open to all. You can enter with unlimited deposits (max 20 per transaction), and the more you enter, the better your odds. Non-winning entries are automatically refunded—so there's no risk of losing ETH on failed mints.

What Are CORES?

CORES are billed as "progressive NFTs"—but here's what that actually means. Once you own one, it evolves. Over time, it can unlock:

  • Access to exclusive Sugartown games
  • Product drops
  • Abstract XP farming
  • $WIN token rewards
  • On-chain perks tied to future Sugartown features

Think of it as a GameFi season pass with perks that stack over time. It's also the entry ticket for the upcoming High Stakes Playground, where players can compete for $WIN tokens. 

CORES Supply Breakdown

There are 9,999 CORES in total, but not all will be available to mint. Here's where they're going:

  • ~2,000 sold in a closed presale (airdrop before mint)
  • ~1,500 reserved for free Ora mints
  • ~6,500 available across the GTD Ora paid mint, whitelist, and public raffle

Trading will open right after the mint ends, so you'll be able to flip, trade, or collect based on market momentum.

How to Prepare for the Mint

The mint will happen on Abstract Chain, an Ethereum L2 known for lower gas fees. You'll need Abstract ETH in your wallet—not mainnet ETH—so prep accordingly.

If you're an ORA holder, you must mint using an EVM-compatible wallet. You'll need to link your wallet to an AGW (Abstract Gaming Wallet) to gain full benefits. If you miss that step, you can still transfer the NFT later. 

Why CORES Matter — and What Sugartown Actually Is

Sugartown is a browser-based web3 platform that blends casual games with NFT ownership and crypto-style rewards. It launched in 2023 as Zynga's first blockchain title but now operates under D20 Labs.

The story begins with a trio of farm animals who accidentally open a rift, bringing in creatures called ORAs. These ORAs became the first NFT collection, with 9,999 in total. Players stake ORAs to earn in-game Energy, which is used to play games and earn Sugar, the platform's in-game currency.

There are already three games live:

  • NGMI – A casual 2D scroller. 
  • ATH (All Time Heights) – A casual climber game where every step counts. 
  • RNPC (Royal Nutz Poker Club) – A multiplayer poker game with on-chain rewards. 

Sugartown's NFTs now include:

  • ORAs – Required to access the platform and stake for Energy
  • CORES – New NFTs that evolve and reward holders over time
  • Sugar – The in-game currency earned through play (not tradable on-chain)
  • $WIN – A future token tied to the High Stakes Playground

The platform already has over 6,900 ORAs minted and a growing user base. Whether CORES help bring more depth and utility (or even more traction to the platform) remains to be seen.