Navigating The Virtual World of The Sandbox: An Interview with Sebastian Borget

The Sandbox‘s digital universe has captured millions of imaginations worldwide, offering a decentralized, creative playground for users and creators alike. Brave New Coin spoke with Sebastian Borget, the co-founder and Chief Operations Officer of Pixowl, the studio behind The Sandbox. Sebastian has been a key figure behind this innovative platform, and together we explore its conception, vision, and trajectory.

“The Sandbox” is a virtual world game that leverages blockchain technology to empower users to create, build, buy, and sell digital assets in the form of a game. Players can create worlds and experiences with the game’s built-in tools. The Sandbox has a native currency SAND, alongside a variety of in-game NFTs.

The Birth and Evolution of The Sandbox

Q: What inspired the creation of The Sandbox?

A: The Sandbox started in 2011 as a mobile game, primarily to harness the platform’s reach and enable a broad spectrum of users to engage in the creative aspects of gaming. We aim to enhance the gaming experience through customization and user-generated content. An exciting industry trend of championing user-created content is seen within games like Mario Maker, the latest Zelda, and the GTA series.

Features like Remix, which allows users to mix their creations built in Sandbox with creations made by other users and brands, are part of how The Sandbox takes the user-created content experience to the next level.

Significance of LAND and Collaborations

Q: Can you explain the importance of LAND in The Sandbox and how it differs from traditional in-game real estate?

A: LAND in The Sandbox is more than just virtual space; it’s the canvas for our users’ creativity. Unlike traditional in-game real estate, LAND forms thematic neighborhoods with distinct cultural and regional identities, like the ongoing Bharatverse sale, an Indian culture-themed parcel. The Bharatverse is elevated by the presence of well-known local brands like Hungama, Eros Now, and IIFC. There are set to be many more themed LAND sales in the coming months and years.

Q: The Sandbox is known for its strategic partnerships. How does it approach collaborations with brands and celebrities?

A: Our collaborations are driven by our user demographics and market trends. For instance, our growing Asian user base has led to partnerships in that region, like the Bharatverse. We also work with brands to create unique virtual experiences that integrate their physical products, such as virtual theme parks with McDonald’s Hong Kong and South Korea’s Lotte World.

The Future Landscape

Q: Where do you see The Sandbox in the context of the growing “metaverse” concept in the next 5-10 years?

A: The Sandbox is poised to play a significant role in the metaverse, focusing on perpetual value for creators and the community. We’re looking at hosting events like GameJam, where users showcase their game-making skills to a panel of judges and receive rewards in the form of crypto. Our roadmap includes enhancing our mobile solution and overall user experience.

The Sandbox is set to have a major public launch in 2025. This will be buffered by the growing power of the brands within the platform. Further targets include improving their mobile solution and making The Sandbox easier to use.

Q: What are some upcoming features in The Sandbox that excite you?

A: We’re thrilled about our new game-maker with a new rule system, all still no code. This was announced at our first Global Creator Day. This was announced alongside a new Gamemaker fund and the opening of The Sandbox, to allow creators to publish their creations.

Our partnership with Unity and the launch of a marketplace on the Polygon Network are other exciting developments. We’re aiming for a full public opening in 2025, to expand our ecosystem further.

Insights on Blockchain and Gaming

Q: What initially sparked your interest in blockchain technology and its application in gaming?

A: My fascination began with Bitcoin and its underlying technology. The concept of NFTs, especially in the context of gaming, opened up new possibilities for community engagement and cultural representation.

Q: As a tech evangelist, what are your key messages about NFTs and blockchain in gaming?

A: The core message is the empowerment of users through ownership, enabled by NFT technology. In The Sandbox, players can own their creations and have the freedom to innovate, reflecting a new era of gaming interaction and community building.

NFT technology also allows game builders within The Sandbox to modify and add features to the games they create. They can add token rewards for completing tasks and building unique adventures.

The game-building mechanic is a unique way for friends and a community to communicate. What began with emojis and evolved into emotes, has now reached a new zenith. A new way for gamers to express themselves.

The metaverse and games like the Sandbox have created new ways for netizens to be free online. Introverts are more themselves on forums and social blogging platforms, the metaverse and avatar-based virtual worlds allow them new avenues to express themselves.

Conclusion:

The interview with Sebastian offered a unique insight into The Sandbox’s innovative approach to gaming, emphasizing user creativity, strategic partnerships, and technological advancements. As the platform continues to evolve, it stands as a testament to the potential of virtual worlds in shaping the future of digital interaction and community building.

In-game user-driven content is changing how we play and interact with games, The Sandbox’s additions to this paradigm, like the addition of fungible and non-fungible digital in-game tokens, are exciting. The Sandbox continues to stack complimentary features on top of each other. What the project is releasing — for players, creators, and players who create — is immensely exciting.