Facepunch, a renowned independent game development studio, has proudly unveiled that their highly anticipated project, S&box, has officially entered an open testing phase. This exciting development means that, for a limited window of time, the game and platform hybrid is now freely accessible to anyone eager to dive in and explore its vast potential.
S&box is the brainchild of Garry Newman, the veteran developer celebrated for creating the iconic sandbox phenomenon Garry’s Mod. Envisioned as the spiritual successor to its predecessor, S&box is built from the ground up using Valve’s powerful Source 2 engine. Far more than just a standalone game, it’s a dynamic and versatile platform designed to empower creators. It provides individuals with the robust tools, ample time, and creative freedom necessary to design, build, and share their very own games—provided they possess the technical know-how and determination to harness its capabilities. Whether you’re an aspiring game developer, a seasoned coder, or simply a curious tinkerer, S&box offers a playground where imagination meets functionality.
For those ready to jump into this open testing phase, here’s a detailed step-by-step guide to get started:
- Check for the Steam account
- Go to the s&box website
- Log in via Steam
- Go to the giveaway page and pick up the game for Steam!
(You should click on the image that features a man and bears the caption “Give me that.”)
This open testing window won’t last forever—access will remain available only until the testing period concludes, though no specific end date has been publicly set. Facepunch is using this phase to gather feedback, refine the platform, and prepare it for a broader release. However, as with any project in active development, S&box isn’t without its challenges. Players and creators may encounter a limited amount of initial content, as the platform is still growing its library of assets and features. The versions available during testing can also be unstable at times, with bugs and glitches that are par for the course in an evolving build. Additionally, tutorials and documentation—crucial for helping new users get started—tend to become outdated quickly as updates roll out, requiring patience and adaptability from the community. Despite these hurdles, the development team remains undeterred, and progress continues at a steady pace.
To mark this significant milestone in the open testing phase, the Small Fish project team—a group closely tied to S&box’s ecosystem—has shared exciting news of their own. They’ve completed work on a version of their project that’s now primed for an official release on Steam. This announcement underscores the creative potential of S&box, showcasing how its tools can already yield polished, standalone experiences. For a deeper look into what S&box has to offer, Facepunch has released a video that highlights its features and possibilities, which you can watch here: https://youtu.be/gll6NGJLmvc. The video provides a glimpse into the platform’s capabilities, from its flexible game-building mechanics to its vibrant community-driven potential.
However, there’s a notable hiccup to report: as of this very moment, the S&box website is grappling with a significant and persistent outage. This downtime is disrupting access to the login and giveaway pages, leaving many would-be testers unable to claim their copy or explore the platform. The cause of the outage remains unclear—whether it’s due to overwhelming traffic from eager users, server maintenance, or an unforeseen technical issue—but it’s a wrinkle in an otherwise exciting rollout. For now, those interested in joining the open testing phase will need to keep an eye on the website’s status and try again once it’s back online. The Facepunch team is likely working diligently to resolve the issue, but no official statement has been released regarding when full functionality will be restored.
In the meantime, S&box represents a bold step forward in the evolution of sandbox game creation. It’s a testament to Facepunch’s commitment to fostering creativity and innovation, building on the legacy of Garry’s Mod while embracing the cutting-edge possibilities of Source 2. Whether you’re a developer looking to craft the next big indie hit or a player eager to see what the community dreams up, S&box promises to be a space worth watching as it continues to grow and refine itself through this open testing chapter.
