{"id":93104,"date":"2026-10-15T11:48:04","date_gmt":"2026-10-15T03:48:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=93104"},"modified":"2026-10-15T11:48:04","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T03:48:04","slug":"it-hasnt-been-going-well","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=93104","title":{"rendered":"\u2018It Hasn\u2019t Been Going Well\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n

Garry Newman, creator of the hugely popular Garry\u2019s Mod<\/em>, has admitted that his studio\u2019s spiritual successor, S&box<\/em>, is struggling and announced a series of sweeping changes intended to turn the project around.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

In a new blog post titled \u201cRethinking,\u201d Newman acknowledged that the game has failed to win over players since its April launch. \u201cThe platform is not well liked, it doesn\u2019t have good retention,\u201d he wrote. \u201cI\u2019m embarrassed by our reviews, I am ashamed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Developed by Facepunch Studios using Valve\u2019s Source 2 engine, S&box<\/em> was envisioned as a successor to Garry\u2019s Mod<\/em>, the physics sandbox that has sold more than 25 million copies. But the new project has struggled to attract an audience, with its Steam reviews sitting at roughly 47% positive.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"A\n <\/picture>Image: Facepunch Studios<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Newman said the studio had focused too heavily on its development tools rather than the experience players actually get.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not selling an engine, we\u2019re selling a game,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n Big changes are coming to S&box
\n <\/h2>\n

Facepunch plans to prioritize the game\u2019s core sandbox experience, adding more NPCs and vehicles while improving multiplayer, add-on support, and customization. Newman said the goal is to bring the experience up to parity with Garry\u2019s Mod<\/em> and eventually surpass it.<\/p>\n

The studio is also rethinking how players discover games within S&box<\/em>. Newman acknowledged that his vision of a \u201cNetflix for games,\u201d where players browse a broad selection of user-created experiences, hasn\u2019t worked as intended. The abundance of low-quality games, including AI-generated projects, has made it harder for players to find worthwhile experiences.<\/p>\n

Instead, Facepunch wants to emphasize curation, promoting the best and most popular games rather than simply offering the largest selection. The studio also plans to shift more of its infrastructure toward Steam Workshop rather than continuing to develop its own alternatives.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"Man\n <\/picture>Image:\u00a0Facepunch Studios<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Perhaps most significantly, S&box<\/em> is expected to become free-to-play toward the end of 2026. Newman said charging an entry fee alongside paid cosmetics could be discouraging potential players.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t need the entrance fee, we need players,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n

Existing owners will receive exclusive Steam inventory items when the game goes free-to-play, with additional items for those who paid the higher $20 price rather than $10. Newman closed the post by acknowledging the disappointment surrounding the project, saying he loves the engine and the creative possibilities it offers but understands why players have been unhappy.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re making some big sweeping changes to try to improve things,\u201d he wrote. \u201cPlease bear with us while we make these changes.\u201d<\/p>\n