Growverse clears Epic Games Store path for blockchain metaverse launch

420WHITE LLC says Epic Games Store has approved its Blockchain Rider, opening a distribution path for Growverse and its new GrowCity virtual city. The launch pairs a cannabis-focused metaverse with a tokenized economy built on Polygon and Unreal Engine 5.7.

Why it matters: - Epic Games Store approval can give Growverse a mainstream distribution route for a blockchain-based metaverse product. - GrowCity is designed as a geolocated virtual city for cannabis and cultivation, tying digital activity to real-world licensed retail and local rules. - The project’s economy centers on LEAF, a dollar-pegged token that the company says is fully collateralized and redeemable at full value.

What happened: - 420WHITE LLC entered the Epic Games Store Distribution Agreement and obtained Epic’s Blockchain Rider after review of its blockchain use case. - The company also unveiled GrowCity, described as the first open-world virtual city in the Growverse ecosystem. - GrowCity was built with Unreal Engine 5.7 and uses Pixel Streaming to render remotely and stream in real time to any browser. - Growverse said its official page will soon appear in the Epic Games Store Coming Soon section. - Once listed, users worldwide will be able to wishlist Growverse and get launch notifications.

The details: - LEAF is a utility stable token on Polygon, fully collateralized 1:1 by USDC. - Every user receives a non-custodial wallet at signup. - When a user acquires LEAF, the corresponding USDC is locked in a smart-contract reserve instead of being booked as income. - The reserve is governed entirely by smart contract, with no access by Growverse or any individual. - Redemption runs against the reserve, and fiat conversion is handled by licensed third parties. - Growverse said it will not touch fiat directly. - The smart contracts will undergo a full CertiK audit before launch and then repeat quarterly. - The company says LEAF supports 45 monetization methods. - Growverse applies a 1% transaction fee and a 1% fee on the 24/7 trade fair. - For events, courses, conferences and Growfounding campaigns, 90% goes to creators, 5% to Growverse and 5% to area managers. - Advertising appears through banners, 3D assets and logos on avatars rather than intrusive interruptions. - Avatars continue promoting even when their owner is offline. - Via Growser, the built-in browser, users can buy products without leaving the metaverse. - Advertisers pay a fixed $0.20 per click, with no auctions or keyword bidding. - The Carousel Room sends ad revenue to the reserve after users watch promotional videos daily and receive LEAF. - Users can redeem LEAF inside or outside the ecosystem. - GrowCity routes users to the nearest grow shop or licensed point of sale under local regulations. - The company says the approach supports proximate commerce and reduces transport distances. - The first three NFT collections sold out and received verification on OpenSea and Rarible. - The fourth NFT collection is centered on the mascot Tapo. - Tapo holders get unlimited free clicks and a permanent clickable avatar logo. - Users can buy 3D NFTs, place them in dedicated areas and activate them as interactive advertising elements. - Tapo provides permanent tutorials for new users. - Interactive globes allow teleportation between cities and future expansions. - Users can browse their own social networks from inside the metaverse and go live, which Romagnino says creates a new generation of virtual influencers.

Between the lines: - The Epic approval suggests blockchain features are being positioned for distribution inside a major gaming ecosystem rather than kept in a niche crypto-only channel. - Growverse is emphasizing verifiable reserves, smart-contract control and third-party audits to distinguish LEAF from typical in-game currencies. - The ad model tries to replace auctions and interruption-based formats with fixed pricing and revenue-sharing mechanics. - The project blends commerce, social media, NFTs and local retail discovery into one environment, which signals an attempt to make the metaverse useful beyond entertainment.

What's next: - Growverse expects its Epic Games Store Coming Soon page to go live shortly. - The company says users will then be able to wishlist the project before launch. - Growverse plans a full CertiK audit before release, followed by quarterly audits. - Soft Secrets and Plagron will each have dedicated buildings in GrowCity. - Development began with Dotlabs and has since expanded to include Dolcevita Interactive Studio.

The bottom line: - Growverse is trying to turn a cannabis-themed metaverse into a regulated, browser-accessible platform with a fully collateralized token economy and a mainstream distribution channel.