How to Play Cornucopias (Infinity Rising)

Cornucopias, now rebranded as Infinity Rising, is an MMORPG metaverse game built on the Cardano blockchain using Unreal Engine 5. Originally conceived as "The Island," the project features themed zones where players can Play-and-Earn, Build-and-Earn, Learn-and-Earn, and Host-and-Earn. As of April 2026, the game is approaching its Alpha launch under the new Infinity Rising branding, though it has been in extended development since 2021 and has not yet delivered a publicly playable product.

Getting Started

What you need:

• A PC capable of running Unreal Engine 5 games (minimum GTX 1060, 8GB RAM; recommended RTX 3060+, 16GB RAM). Console and mobile support is planned but not available.
• A Cardano wallet (Nami, Eternl, or Flint) for NFT ownership and token interactions
• An internet connection
• Optional: COPI tokens for marketplace purchases

Minimum investment: Unknown for the Alpha phase. The project has sold land NFTs and various in-game asset NFTs during presales, with prices ranging from $50 to several thousand dollars depending on rarity. Whether Alpha access requires NFT ownership has not been confirmed.

Blockchain: Cardano. The utility token is $COPI. Some assets have been bridged via ChainPort to other networks.

Critical note: Infinity Rising has been in development for over four years without a publicly playable version. Multiple roadmap deadlines have been missed. The project has undergone a significant rebrand. Exercise caution before making any financial commitment.

Step-by-Step Setup

1. Set up a Cardano wallet, download Nami, Eternl, or Flint browser extension wallets. Fund with ADA for transaction fees.
2. Visit the official website at cornucopias.io (redirects to the Infinity Rising page) and create an account.
3. Purchase COPI tokens (optional), available on exchanges like MEXC and SundaeSwap (Cardano DEX). COPI is used for marketplace transactions.
4. Acquire NFT assets (optional), land plots, vehicles, buildings, and other assets have been sold through the official marketplace and secondary markets like JPG Store.
5. Wait for Alpha access, as of April 2026, the Alpha is marked as "launching soon." Join the Discord for announcements on access.
6. Download the client, when Alpha launches, a game client download will be available through the official website.

Core Gameplay Loop (Based on Announced Features)

The following is based on announced features and limited demo footage. Gameplay may change before final release:

• Exploration, explore a 3D open world called The Island from a third-person perspective. The world is divided into themed zones including WildWest, Farm Life, Age of the Samurai, and more.
• Play-and-Earn, participate in mini-games within each zone to earn COPI tokens. Games are designed to span genres, racing, farming, combat, puzzles, with different zones offering different activities.
• Build-and-Earn, construct buildings, shops, and attractions on owned land plots. Other players visiting or using your structures generates income.
• Learn-and-Earn, an educational component where completing learning modules earns rewards. Partnership with educational institutions has been discussed but not confirmed.
• Host-and-Earn, create and host events, concerts, or gatherings on your land. Revenue sharing with attendees and sponsors.
• Economy, a player-driven economy where crafted goods, land, vehicles, and services are traded using COPI tokens.

The vision is ambitious, essentially a blockchain-powered Second Life with multiple themed game zones. Whether this vision can be delivered remains to be seen.

Earning Mechanics

COPI Token: The primary utility token. Intended to be earned through gameplay activities, land ownership, and hosting events. Currently tradeable on exchanges and used for NFT marketplace purchases.

Land Ownership: Plots within The Island's themed zones can be purchased as NFTs. Landowners are expected to earn from player activity on their plots, though specific rates and mechanics are not yet finalized.

NFT Assets: Vehicles, buildings, furniture, and cosmetics exist as NFTs. Some were sold during presale events at significant prices.

Realistic expectations: Since the game is not yet playable, there are no actual earning metrics to report. All earning projections are based on whitepaper promises. History shows that many blockchain metaverse projects fail to deliver on tokenomic promises. Do not invest based on projected returns.

Beginner Tips and Strategy

• Wait for the Alpha before spending money. Until the game is playable and you can evaluate the actual experience, any NFT or token purchase is purely speculative.
• If you must invest, start small. Lower-tier land plots and common assets carry less financial risk than premium parcels.
• Join the Discord community. The community has been the primary source of development updates. Official announcements, Alpha access details, and testing opportunities are shared there.
• Research the Cardano ecosystem. Understanding Cardano wallets, ADA transactions, and the Cardano NFT marketplace (JPG Store) will help you navigate the ecosystem when the game launches.
• Monitor the rebrand. The shift from Cornucopias to Infinity Rising signals a strategic refocus. Pay attention to what features survive the rebrand and which are dropped.
• Set realistic expectations. Many blockchain metaverse projects from the 2021-2022 era have either shut down or dramatically scaled back their visions. Evaluate Infinity Rising on what it delivers, not what it promises.

Common Issues and Solutions

"The game is not available to play." Correct as of April 2026. The Alpha is announced as "launching soon" but no public access date has been confirmed. Follow the official Discord and Twitter for launch announcements.

"I bought NFTs during presale and cannot use them." Presale NFT assets are intended for use when the game launches. They exist on the Cardano blockchain and can be held in your wallet or traded on JPG Store, but have no in-game utility until launch.

"COPI token price has dropped significantly." Like many gaming tokens, COPI has declined from its early sale prices. Token value is tied to project progress and market sentiment. Current prices may or may not reflect eventual utility.

"The project keeps missing deadlines." This has been a recurring pattern. The team has cited technical complexity and scope expansion. Consider this track record when evaluating future timeline promises.

"I am confused by the rebrand." Cornucopias is now Infinity Rising. The core vision (themed metaverse zones, multi-earn mechanics) appears to carry forward, but the new branding may come with revised features and priorities.

FAQ

Is Cornucopias / Infinity Rising playable in 2026? Not yet. The Alpha is described as launching soon, but there is no confirmed public access date as of April 2026. The project has been in development since 2021.

Is this a scam? There is no evidence of fraud, but the extended development timeline without a playable product is a significant red flag. The team has shown development progress through videos and demos, but promises have consistently exceeded delivery. Proceed with caution.

Do I need to buy NFTs to play? This has not been definitively answered for the Alpha phase. The project has stated it will be accessible through multiple platforms and include free-to-play elements, but specific requirements are unclear.

How does this compare to other blockchain metaverse projects? Most blockchain metaverse projects from 2021-2022 (including Decentraland, The Sandbox, and others) have underdelivered relative to their ambitions. Infinity Rising is more graphically ambitious (UE5) but further from delivery than most competitors.

Should I buy COPI tokens? Only if you understand the risk. There is no functional game generating real token utility yet. Token purchases are speculative bets on future delivery.

What happened to the Cardano gaming ecosystem? Cardano gaming has been slower to develop compared to Ethereum, Polygon, and Solana ecosystems. Fewer games have launched successfully on Cardano, though the chain's lower fees are an advantage for gaming applications.