Meta Apes: A Free-to-Play, Play-to-Earn Ape-Themed MMO Strategy Game Competing for Space Supremacy.

What is Meta Apes

Friends, imagine a scene straight out of a sci-fi movie: human civilization has ended, and Earth is taken over by a group of intelligent apes. Not only have they built a new society, but they've also launched a race for space supremacy! Meta Apes (in the whitepaper, the project name mainly refers to its governance token PEEL, not SHELL; SHELL is the in-game resource token) is a mobile game set in this very scenario. It’s a free-to-play, play-and-earn, massively multiplayer online (MMO) strategy game available for download on Android and Apple devices.

In this game, you play as the leader of an ape tribe, aiming to grow your “Gang” and ultimately become the most powerful “Clan” to win the “space race.” Core gameplay includes city building, resource management, army training, research, and engaging in player-versus-player (PvP) and player-versus-environment (PvE) battles. You can also explore the map and discover various challenges and mini-games, such as “Stalemate Trials,” “Alvin’s Treasure Hunt,” and “Train Race”—all rich and entertaining.

It’s worth noting that Meta Apes is designed so both traditional gamers and crypto enthusiasts can enjoy it. Even if you know nothing about blockchain, you can download and play for free—owning an NFT (non-fungible token, a unique digital asset on the blockchain) is not required to start playing.

Project Vision and Value Proposition

Meta Apes’ vision is to build a community-centric game, combining the strengths of Web2 (traditional internet) gaming with the innovations of Web3 (blockchain internet). For traditional players, it offers a chance for their time and effort in-game to truly convert into digital assets they own, with the possibility of earning rewards. For those familiar with crypto, it provides a more interactive and engaging gaming experience.

The team believes that players, as consumers, should enjoy greater transparency, true ownership of their assets, and more freedom, while also experiencing genuinely fun, story-driven, and community-based gameplay. Meta Apes aims to solve a common problem in current Web3 games: many blockchain games focus too much on “earning” and neglect “fun,” making it hard to sustain player interest. Meta Apes puts gameplay first, striving to balance high-quality graphics, engaging mechanics, and reasonable rewards.

Compared to similar projects, Meta Apes stands out as one of the first games launched on the BNB Application Sidechain (BAS). This technical choice helps it avoid common network congestion issues in blockchain games and gives more flexibility in game design and tokenomics. Simply put, it’s like a custom-built highway for Meta Apes, making the game run smoother.

Technical Features

Meta Apes’ biggest technical highlight is that it runs on its own dedicated blockchain, called the “Ape Chain,” which is an instance of the BNB Application Sidechain (BAS). A sidechain is an independent blockchain running parallel to the main chain (like BNB Chain), serving specific applications. This architecture brings several notable advantages:

• High throughput and low transaction fees: Like a dedicated express lane, Ape Chain can handle a large volume of in-game transactions while greatly reducing the cost for players.
• Highly customizable and scalable: The team can deeply customize the chain to meet game needs, ensuring smooth operation and supporting future feature expansion.
• True digital ownership: Key game data and assets (such as NFTs) are recorded on the blockchain, not on centralized servers controlled by the game company. This means players truly own their digital assets and can freely trade and sell them.

Meta Apes also leverages Ankr’s blockchain gaming SDK, allowing the fun of Web2 games and the incentives of Web3 to blend more seamlessly. Additionally, in-game NFT characters—“NFT Fighters”—have unique skills and attributes, varying rarities, can generate resources in-game, and offer extra abilities and appearance customization.

Tokenomics

The Meta Apes ecosystem features two main tokens: PEEL and SHELL.

PEEL Token

• Token Symbol: PEEL
• Issuing Chain: PEEL is the governance and native gas token of Ape Chain (BNB sidechain). It’s also deployed on BSC, Ethereum, Polygon zkEVM, zkSync, Linea, and Base, enabling cross-chain circulation.
• Total Supply & Issuance: PEEL has a maximum supply of 1,000,000,000 (1 billion) tokens.
• Inflation/Burn: PEEL holders can vote to decide whether to buy back or burn tokens, helping manage circulation.
• Current & Future Circulation: Initial circulating supply is 25,000,000 tokens, 2.5% of the total. Unlocking and distribution will occur gradually over 65 months after public sale.
• Token Utility: PEEL serves multiple roles in the Meta Apes ecosystem:
  • NFT purchase & trading: Used to buy and trade in-game NFT assets.
  • Performance rewards: Rewards outstanding players and gangs.
  • Key in-game activities: Used for certain important in-game actions, such as final upgrades for NFT Fighters.
  • Gas fees: As the native token on Ape Chain, used to pay transaction “gas.”
  • Staking & in-game validators: Players can stake PEEL to participate in network security and validation.
  • Governance & voting: PEEL holders have the right to vote and decide the game’s future direction.
  • In-game purchases: Including buying SHELL resource packs, etc.
• Token allocation & unlock info: PEEL allocation includes team, ecosystem fund, private sale, public sale, community rewards, and marketing/liquidity. The specific unlock schedule lasts 65 months.

SHELL Token

• Token Symbol: SHELL
• Token Nature: SHELL is the in-game resource token, mainly generated by players who own NFT Fighters.
• Token Utility: Players can use SHELL to accelerate game progress, such as speeding up construction and training.

Team, Governance & Funding

Team

The Meta Apes team members come from both gaming and blockchain backgrounds, dedicated to combining the fun of Web2 games with the advantages of Web3. Early on, they partnered with Ankr (a blockchain infrastructure company), leveraging Ankr’s expertise and technology to quickly build Ape Chain and integrate Web3 features. Mentioned team members include business lead Taylor Shim and social media manager Krishna Chaitanya.

Governance

Meta Apes is committed to decentralized governance, meaning PEEL token holders will be able to participate in major game decisions. For example, they can vote on how to use game-generated revenue, such as whether to buy back PEEL tokens or burn some to affect the tokenomics. The specific governance structure is still being refined.

Funding

Meta Apes has received funding through various means, including private and public sales of PEEL tokens. The first exchange offering (IFO) of PEEL was held on PancakeSwap and successfully oversubscribed. Additionally, the project has an ecosystem fund to continuously support Meta Apes’ development and community building.

Roadmap

Here are some key milestones and plans for the Meta Apes project:

• End of May 2022: Game officially launched, debuting on the BNB Application Sidechain (BAS) as the first game on this sidechain.
• August 4, 2022: PEEL token IFO (Initial Farm Offering) on PancakeSwap, successfully oversubscribed.
• October 21, 2022: Team held an AMA (Ask Me Anything) with BTS Labs, introducing the game and Web3 integration.
• Future plans: The core goal of the game is to achieve “space supremacy,” and players will continue striving for this objective.
• Major update (November 30, 2024): Meta Apes game servers officially ceased service and support on November 30, 2024. This means the game itself is no longer playable. However, on-chain services, including the NFT marketplace and cross-chain bridge, will continue to operate, allowing players to freely exchange their assets.

Common Risk Reminders

Friends, it’s crucial to be aware of risks with any blockchain project. For Meta Apes, pay special attention to the following:

• Operational risk (realized): The most significant risk is that Meta Apes’ game servers stopped operating on November 30, 2024. As a “game,” its core experience no longer exists. While on-chain assets (such as NFTs and PEEL tokens) and the marketplace/cross-chain bridge remain available, the shutdown of the game itself greatly impacts the utility and value of these assets. DappRadar has also marked the project as inactive.
• Economic risk: Although PEEL’s on-chain services remain, the main value support—game economic activity and player demand—will drop sharply after the game’s shutdown. This may lead to reduced liquidity and increased price volatility for PEEL and SHELL tokens. The sustainability of any “play-to-earn” model depends on an active player base and healthy economic cycle, which is directly broken by the game’s closure.
• Technical & security risk: Although the project runs on a dedicated Ape Chain, any blockchain project may face smart contract vulnerabilities, network attacks, etc. As an early adopter of the BNB Application Sidechain, its technical stability also requires ongoing attention.
• Compliance & regulatory risk: Global regulations on cryptocurrencies and NFTs are still evolving, and future policy changes may affect project operations and token value.
• Project development uncertainty: The whitepaper mentioned that priorities, roadmap, and features may be adjusted based on research, market feedback, and community input. The closure of the game servers further confirms this uncertainty.

Please note: The above information does not constitute investment advice. Always conduct thorough independent research and risk assessment before participating in any cryptocurrency project.

Verification Checklist

• Block explorer contract addresses:
  • PEEL token contract address on BSC (also applies to Ape Chain):
    0x734548a9e43d2D564600b1B2ed5bE9C2b911c6aB
  • Ape Chain block explorer:
    https://explorer.bas.metaapesgame.com/
  • PEEL contract addresses on other chains (Ethereum, Polygon zkEVM, zkSync, Linea, Base) can also be found in the whitepaper.
• GitHub activity: No direct link or activity info for Meta Apes’ GitHub repo found in search results; please search and assess code update frequency and community contributions yourself.
• Official website:
  metaapesgame.com
  (Note: The site currently displays a notice that game servers are closed)
• Whitepaper: Accessible via the official website or GitBook link.
• DappRadar status: This Dapp is marked as inactive, meaning no on-chain activity detected for at least 30 days and official resources may be unavailable.

Project Summary

Meta Apes was once an ambitious free-to-play, play-to-earn mobile MMO strategy game, attracting players with its unique post-apocalyptic ape world and pioneering its dedicated Ape Chain on the BNB Application Sidechain (BAS) to deliver a smooth, low-cost gaming experience and true digital asset ownership for players.

The project built its economic model around the PEEL governance token and SHELL in-game resource token, with PEEL holders enjoying governance rights and participating in value capture within the game ecosystem. The game also introduced NFT Fighters, giving players extra gameplay advantages and earning opportunities.

However, a very important update is that Meta Apes’ game servers ceased service on November 30, 2024. This means the core gameplay and experience are no longer available. While on-chain assets (such as NFTs and PEEL tokens) and the marketplace/cross-chain bridge remain accessible, the closure of the game itself brings huge uncertainty to the ecosystem’s vitality and the long-term value of its tokens. Platforms like DappRadar have also marked the project as inactive.

Therefore, for Meta Apes, although it once had highlights in technical innovation and Web3 gaming concepts, the shutdown of the game servers is a fundamental change. Anyone considering interacting with assets related to this project should be fully aware of this major risk. Be sure to conduct thorough independent research and carefully assess all potential risks. This is absolutely not investment advice.