In the ever-expanding world of digital creation and gaming, The Sandbox, a prominent
metaverse platform under Animoca Brands, has recently unveiled its Voxel
games program, marking a significant stride towards enriching its ecosystem with indie game developers. This initiative aims to integrate voxel-style
games crafted using renowned game engines such as Unity and Unreal. The move not only opens a myriad of opportunities for developers but also significantly widens The Sandbox’s horizon across various platforms, moving beyond its conventional blockchain-powered confines.
The Sandbox has previously etched its mark in the gaming industry with two successful mobile
games, The Sandbox (2011) and The Sandbox Evolution (2016), collectively amassing over 40 million downloads on iOS and Android platforms. A strategic pivot was made in 2018 by Pixowl, the developer and publisher behind this gaming IP, transitioning its vast user-generated content (UGC) and creator community from mobile to the blockchain ecosystem. The core idea was to revolutionize the gaming sector by offering creators genuine ownership of their creations as non-fungible
tokens (NFTs) and nurturing their involvement in the ecosystem. Today, The Sandbox stands as a vibrant virtual
metaverse where enthusiasts can build, own, and monetize their gaming experiences on the
ethereum blockchain, employing the platform’s utility
token, SAND.
VoxEdit and Game Maker
Historically, The Sandbox has been acknowledged for its user-friendly no-code tools, VoxEdit and Game Maker, enabling users to design voxel-based
games and assets sans any programming background. The introduction of the Voxel
games program is poised to modify this landscape, empowering professional developers to craft
games in voxel style utilizing a spectrum of game engines. These creations can then be launched on various mediums, not restricted to The Sandbox’s ecosystem.
Empowering Indie Developers with Voxel-Based Game Creation
According to Sebastien Borget, COO of The Sandbox, the platform now hosts upwards of six million users and has facilitated 1,300 live experiences from its community of content creators. The recent integration of external game engines heralds a new era for the platform, aiming to accommodate a broader range of professional developers. The Voxel
games program stands as a testament to The Sandbox’s efforts to diversify its reach, inviting
games, developers, and creators from different spectrums while adhering to its vision of simplifying the complexities of blockchain technology.
Aligned with The Sandbox’s mission to foster an open
metaverse, the Voxel
games program enables developers to weave traditional game mechanics — including free-to-play models, microtransactions, and in-app purchases — with The Sandbox’s blockchain components like SAND and player-owned digital assets such as avatars and NFTs. Borget highlighted the platform’s approach towards demystifying blockchain technology for users, facilitating the ownership of assets and earning
rewards without delving deep into smart contracts. This simplicity, coupled with the extended platform reach through the Voxel
games initiative, solidifies The Sandbox’s leadership in blockchain gaming and interoperability.
New Partnerships and Expanded Distribution
With the rollout of the program, The Sandbox has collaborated with studios like Frag
games and The Devhouse Agency, with an anticipation of more alliances in the pipeline. These partnerships are set to introduce diverse content and novel gameplay styles into The Sandbox’s repertoire. Furthermore, Nicola Sebastiani, the Chief Content Officer at The Sandbox, enumerated that over 50 game propositions have been assessed as part of the program, hinting at more announcements on the horizon. These
games, spanning mobile, web, and PC platforms, aim at amplifying the distribution avenues for The Sandbox’s voxel-based ventures.
Strengthening the Creator Ecosystem
The inception of the Voxel
games program perpetuates The Sandbox’s ethos of nurturing a thriving creator ecosystem. Inviting professional developers to its
metaverse, the program broadens the content spectrum for its users, encompassing over 170,000 voxel asset owners and 1.7 million assets already crafted within the platform. It also offers developers access to over 400 partner brands and intellectual properties (IPs), providing a fertile ground to create distinctive experiences that harmonize multiple IPs into cohesive gameplay encounters.
Bridging Traditional and Blockchain Gaming
The Sandbox’s Voxel
games program represents a monumental leap towards merging the realms of traditional gaming with blockchain-powered experiences. While
games developed under this initiative may initially lack
web3 functionalities, they offer players the later option to integrate their wallets, thereby engaging with NFTs, SAND
tokens, and other blockchain elements. For developers, this program presents an avenue to access The Sandbox’s robust community, heightening their
games’ visibility while contributing to the burgeoning
web3 ecosystem.
Final Thoughts
The launch of The Sandbox’s Voxel
games program heralds a new chapter for the platform, emphasizing interoperability and a broader reach across the gaming industry. By allowing indie developers to craft and disseminate voxel-style
games via external game engines, The Sandbox furthers its mission of curating an open
metaverse where players can effortlessly utilize their digital assets across diverse platforms. This initiative not only opens doors for indie studios to delve into the expansive
metaverse but also cements The Sandbox's position as a pivotal player in the evolving blockchain gaming landscape. With its dedication to bolstering both professional and amateur creators, The Sandbox is paving the way for a future where digital ownership and cross-platform gaming are integral to the gaming experience. More information is available here.
