The Voxel Games Program: Expanding The Sandbox’s Ecosystem
The Sandbox, a blockchain-based game similar to Minecraft, is taking its ecosystem to new heights with the introduction of the Voxel Games program. This program aims to partner with renowned indie developers and studios to create games in The Sandbox’s distinctive voxel style, expanding its boundaries and reaching a wider audience.
Sebastien Borget, COO of The Sandbox, stated in an interview that the platform already has over six million users with an account and has announced major brand partnerships. The Voxel Games program is a key driver in increasing the attractiveness for creators on The Sandbox. The platform has over 1,300 live experiences created by user-generated content creators and has distributed over three million SAND tokens to these creators during its Builder Challenge events.
To further fuel the growth of its ecosystem, The Sandbox has organized more than a dozen game jams around the world. Nicola Sebastiani, chief content officer and head of the U.S., has been leading the development of the Voxel Games program. This program will allow The Sandbox to collaborate with third-party developers and studios to create games using voxel style and content for engines like Unity, Unreal, and others, opening up new possibilities beyond the platform’s existing “no code” game maker tools.
The initial studio partners of The Sandbox’s Voxel Games program include Frag Games and The Devhouse Agency, with more partnerships set to be announced in the coming months. These partnerships will provide professional game developers with the creative freedom to develop voxel-style games using their preferred game engines, such as Unity, Unreal, or HTML5, while leveraging The Sandbox’s existing communities and ecosystem.
Broadening to New Platforms
With the Voxel Games program, The Sandbox is not only expanding its ecosystem but also broadening its reach to new platforms. While the platform has primarily focused on Web3 and blockchain technology, this program will allow game projects to be developed across various devices, including mobile, web, and PC. This move widens the distribution possibilities for game creators and provides more accessibility to traditional gaming platforms.
Sebastien Borget emphasized that The Sandbox does not force developers to build on a new chain and wait for its adoption. The platform has successfully abstracted the complexity of blockchain technology, allowing users to own avatars and earn rewards without directly interacting with smart contracts. The Sandbox’s philosophy of user-friendly blockchain integration will continue as it broadens its spectrum of games, developers, and creators.
Game projects developed through The Sandbox’s Voxel Games program will utilize traditional game monetization mechanics, including free-to-play, microtransactions, in-app purchases, and ads. Additionally, these games will incorporate the blockchain components of The Sandbox, such as accepting the SAND utility token and player-owned digital assets like avatars, LANDs, and voxel asset NFTs.
The Voxel Games program presents an exciting opportunity to realize The Sandbox’s vision of an open metaverse, where players can acquire, own, and use their digital assets across multiple games and platforms. The program will leverage The Sandbox’s existing user base, which includes over six million user accounts, 25,000 LAND token owners, 55,000 avatar owners, and 290,000 SAND token holders. By expanding beyond the current platform, The Sandbox aims to increase the utility and adoption of the SAND token, further establishing itself as a leading gaming token.
The Benefits for Players and Developers
The Voxel Games program brings several benefits to both players and developers. For players, it means they can utilize their digital assets, such as avatars, across a new portfolio of games. This allows players to create a unique digital identity that can be carried across different games on various platforms. The program also enables developers to build gameplay that brings multiple intellectual properties together, creating exciting and immersive experiences for players.
Additionally, The Sandbox’s extensive library of over 100,000 assets provides developers with a wealth of resources to enhance their games. The program offers developers the opportunity to leverage The Sandbox’s user base, IP partnerships, and player-owned digital assets, integrating them into their games and expanding their reach beyond The Sandbox platform.
The expansion beyond Web3 platforms also means that players can get started on other platforms without Web3 functionality and later connect their wallets to engage with NFTs and SAND tokens. This approach provides flexibility and allows players to gradually explore the benefits of blockchain technology.
Sebastiani mentioned that The Sandbox has already reviewed 50 submissions from game studios interested in the program. Two partnerships have been announced, and three more are expected in the coming months. The titles developed through the Voxel Games program will include various genres such as survival games and dungeon crawlers, offering a diverse range of experiences beyond The Sandbox’s traditional mash-up style content.
In conclusion, The Sandbox’s Voxel Games program represents a significant step forward in expanding its ecosystem and reaching a wider audience. By partnering with indie developers and studios, The Sandbox can bring its voxel-style games to new platforms and create a more interconnected metaverse. The program benefits both players and developers, allowing for the seamless integration of digital assets and the exploration of new gameplay possibilities. With its commitment to user-friendly blockchain integration, The Sandbox is poised to revolutionize the gaming industry and shape the future of the metaverse.
