Entertainment · Gaming · 1 hr ago
Facepunch plans major overhaul as S&box prepares to go free to play
Facepunch founder Garry Newman says S&box has not met expectations after its release earlier this year.
S&box is a sandbox game and creation platform from the studio behind Garry’s Mod, which inspired it.
The platform has struggled with reviews and keeping players, while low-quality AI-made games have made it harder to find good user-created games.
Newman said Facepunch focused too much on tools for developers and not enough on what players could do in the game.
The studio plans to focus on improving the sandbox game, including adding more characters, vehicles, multiplayer features and support for add-ons.
S&box is expected to become free to play toward the end of the year, and people who already paid will receive exclusive in-game items.
Newman also said the studio will move away from a large menu of games and focus on helping players find the best ones.
Facepunch Studios plans to make S&box free to play toward the end of 2026 as part of a major rethink.
Founder Garry Newman said the studio will shift its focus from development tools to what players experience.
Facepunch plans to improve S&box’s Sandbox Game with more non-player characters, vehicles, multiplayer features and support for add-ons and customization.
Newman said the idea of presenting players with a large menu of games had not worked, and that the platform should prioritize popular, well-curated games.
Players who paid for S&box will receive exclusive Steam inventory items, with additional items for those who paid $20 rather than $10.
- Who
- Facepunch Studios and its founder, Garry Newman.
- What
- S&box will go free to play as Facepunch overhauls the platform and shifts its focus toward players.
- When
- The free-to-play change is planned for toward the end of 2026.
- Where
- S&box, available on Steam and through the game’s website.
- Why
- Newman said the platform was not well liked and had poor player retention, and that Facepunch had focused too much on the engine and development experience.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Facepunch released S&box.
Newman announced plans for a major rethink of S&box.
Facepunch plans to make S&box free to play.
- Release
- April 2026
- Free-to-play timing
- Toward the end of 2026
- Paid-player compensation
- Exclusive Steam inventory items
- Player focus
- The Sandbox Game, with more NPCs, vehicles, multiplayer and add-on support
- Cost distinction for compensation
- Extra items for players who paid $20 rather than $10
3 sources
'My idea of a Netflix for games doesn’t work': Garry's Mod successor is getting 'sweeping changes'
Garry’s Mod Creator Says He’s ‘Ashamed’ And ‘Embarrassed’ By The Response To His Latest Project: ‘I’ve Let Everybody Down’
"My idea of a Netflix for games doesn’t work": Garry's Mod creator says struggling spiritual successor S&box will go free to play as part of major rethink
What people are saying
My idea of a Netflix for games doesn’t work
I’m embarrassed by our reviews, I am ashamed
We shouldn’t strive to be a platform with the most games available. We should strive to be a platform with the best, most popular games available.
The launch was shit