The Sandbox is gearing up for the launch of Alpha Season 6, which begins on September 24 and will run for 9 weeks. The new season brings 30 interactive Experiences, 50 NFTs to earn, and a total reward pool of 250,000 SAND.

At the center of this upcoming season is a partnership with Cirque du Soleil. Their themed Experiences will include a full lineup of Mannequin Avatars that players can transform into colorful Cirque costumes during gameplay. These costumes also carry bonus Ethos Points (EP), which players need to earn a share of the final prize pool.

Cirque du Soleil Arrives in The Sandbox

Alpha Season 6 will feature 2 new Experiences built around Cirque du Soleil's stage shows. The partnership brings unique in-game Avatars that begin as mannequins and later transform into fantasy-style costumes inspired by real Cirque performances. These Avatars are fully playable both before and after transformation.

There are 10 Cirque-themed Avatars across 5 rarity levels. Prices range from 6 SAND for Common to 999 SAND for the highest-tier Legendary Avatar. Each one grants a different amount of EP upon transformation, with the Statue of Liberty Avatar rewarding 5,000 EP, the most of any costume so far.

Cirque du Soleil Avatars in The Sandbox Alpha Season 6

A Rebuilt Alpha Hub and New Player Tools

With the launch of the new season, The Sandbox will also roll out a completely redesigned Alpha Hub. The new layout is more open, with tutorial areas, daily events, and guided quests. Players will be introduced to 2 new movement Abilities: Dash and Glide.

The Hub will also include 9 Partner Pavilions. Each one can be accessed with a Partner Pass and will reward players with 4 SAND per pavilion, totaling 36 SAND if all are unlocked. 4 additional pavilions are tied to LAND ownership and unlock further SAND rewards if the community hits EP-based milestones.

Season Progression: Battle Pass and EP

Alpha Season 6 will use a two-track Battle Pass system: Free and Premium. The Battle Pass contains 35 levels with a mix of NFT gear and SAND rewards. Players who reach level 35 on the Premium track will receive the SAND Pool Key, which gives access to the 250,000 SAND reward pool.

How much a player receives from that pool depends on the total amount of EP they earn throughout the season. EP can be collected by completing quests, transforming Avatars, owning specific NFTs, joining social events, or referring new players.

Owning a Jurassic World Dinosaur NFT will further boost EP earnings. This multiplier can range from 5% to 50% depending on the rarity of the dinosaur. These bonuses apply retroactively to any already-transformed Cirque Avatars.

Premium Pass Rewards in The Sandbox Alpha Season 6

Premium Pass and What It Offers

The Premium Pass for Alpha Season 6 is priced at 30 SAND and is available in limited supply. Each pass includes:

  • One Common Cirque Mannequin Avatar
  • One Jurassic World Dinosaur Egg
  • Nine Partner Passes (worth 4 SAND each)
  • The SAND Pool Key at level 35
  • Rare gear NFTs
  • One exclusive Memorabilia item

Players with the Premium Pass can earn up to 42 SAND through the Battle Pass in addition to what they might earn from the final SAND pool.

How the SAND Pool Works

The Premium SAND Pool Key (available only at the end of the Premium track) will unlock a shared reward pool of 250,000 SAND. A player's share of this pool is based on their EP total compared to other Pool Key holders.

For example, a player who earns 5,500 EP out of a total 15.3 million EP across all players would get around 0.036% of the prize pool. That amounts to 90 SAND. These numbers will change depending on player participation and total EP earned.

Quests and EP Rewards

There are 3 types of quests coming in Season 6:

  • Normal Quests: Give 5 EP each, marked with yellow icons
  • Adventure Quests: Around 30 in total, grant 90 EP each, marked in blue
  • Hardcore Quests: More difficult, offer 45 EP, marked in purple

On top of this, players can earn bonus EP through Spotlight Experiences, which highlight new Experiences for 24 hours and reward an extra 20 EP. Social Challenges will also return, offering 15 EP when players take and share screenshots on X. Linking social accounts is required to participate.

Friend referrals also boost EP. Players earn 300 EP for each referred friend who reaches level 10, up to a total of 10 friends, for a max bonus of 3,000 EP.

Avatar Ownership and Weekly Bonuses

Players who own any Avatar NFT will receive passive EP each week based on rarity. Weekly EP bonuses are:

  • Common: 10 EP
  • Uncommon: 30 EP
  • Rare: 65 EP
  • Epic: 140 EP
  • Legendary: 300 EP

These points will be added every Tuesday at 2 p.m. UTC. Two special Avatar collections will also launch during the season, each providing a one-time 200 EP bonus on top of weekly boosts.

LAND Owners: Community Goal and Bonus Rooms

The LAND Owner Community Goal returns this season, offering extra rewards to users who hold LAND in The Sandbox. As all players earn EP, the collective total helps unlock 4 community milestones. Each one gives LAND Owners a pass to a new exclusive room inside the Hub.

Each room contains a chest holding 10 SAND. If all four milestones are met, LAND Owners can collect a total of 40 SAND over the course of the season.

Free Rewards Still in Play

Those who didn't purchase a Premium Pass can still earn up to 6 SAND through the Free Battle Pass. This track also offers 9 Equipment NFTs and 1 Memorabilia item. Free track players earn EP in the same ways as Premium users, but they won't receive the SAND Pool Key or the final reward from the shared prize pool.

Cirque Avatar Prices and EP Gains

Each Cirque Mannequin transforms into a costume through gameplay, unlocking EP boosts below:

  • Explorer Clown (Common): 6 SAND, 100 EP
  • Lucha Libre (Common): Comes with Premium Pass, 100 EP
  • Green Hummingbird (Uncommon): 29 SAND, 320 EP
  • Running Woman and Taxi Driver (Rare): 49 SAND, 550 EP each
  • Fish Head Lady and Goldy (Epic): 99 SAND, 1150 EP each
  • Flower Cactus and Disco Apple (Legendary): 249 SAND, 3000 EP each
  • Statue of Liberty (Legendary): 999 SAND, 5000 EP

These EP bonuses play a big role in raising a player's ranking and final reward payout.

What to Expect Compared to Season 5

Alpha Season 6 expands on the systems from Season 5, which featured Jurassic World and over 40 playable Experiences. This new season will be longer and more focused on brand partnerships and new mechanics.

The updated Abilities now include Dash and Glide, bringing more fluid movement to the game. A total of 19 Experiences will feature at least one Ability, while 12 will be built specifically around them. The Save Data system will also apply to 16 Experiences, letting players resume their progress without starting over.

Alpha Season 6 kicks off on September 24. Players will be able to explore new branded Experiences, collect fresh rewards, and compete for a share of the prize pool throughout the 9-week event.