What Is The Sandbox, an Ethereum-Based Game in the Metaverse?

After years of development, The Sandbox marketplace finally launched last year. Based in the Ethereum ecosystem, this is a game-like city that exists solely in the metaverse, signifying just one of the many ways in which blockchain technology is going to shape itself in the lead-up to Web3. 

For many people across the globe, the blockchain conversation still revolves predominantly around cryptocurrency. Bitcoin, for instance, was the very first token to be created on a decentralised platform, and today, it still appears in almost every dialogue. 

In fact, many non-crypto users will still judge the success and potential of blockchain technology based entirely on the price of Bitcoin at any given time. But blockchain is arguably the most revolutionary tech advancement in recent years, and discussing it in relation to digital assets is just scratching the surface. 

Blockchain has the capability of transforming how we live, trade and do business, and this is all exemplified through The Sandbox. A Minecraft-esque decentralised game for some, a seismic step in the road to Web3 for others. 

What Is The Sandbox?

The Sandbox is an Ethereum-based game in the metaverse, allowing users to build and own pieces of it in the form of NFTs. They can then use these pieces – known as LAND parcels – to develop their own custom games and locations, sometimes even monetising them. 

It is an open-world game which can be played on a PC, Mac or mobile device, allowing users to roam freely to explore countless unique locations owned and developed by the users and businesses which have bought them. As mentioned before, the aesthetics of the game look almost like the Mojang hit Minecraft. Users exist and move around as block-like characters, with the world itself made of retro, 3D pixels. 

In the game, there are events that include NFT launch parties and virtual, live experiences. These events are created by the users and shared through the various Sandbox communities, making this a legitimate virtual world that is just as eventful as our real one – you can even be late to the party unless you fast-travel, of course!

Who Uses The Sandbox?

As of 2022, The Sandbox has reported around 300,000 monthly active users – including 39,000 daily users and 4.1 million wallets in total. Many of these users are actually well-known brands. With the world moving fast toward Web3, companies across the globe are attempting to adapt their products or services in order to thrive when the time comes, and The Sandbox offers them a unique way to do this. 

As if those brands had rented a property on the local high street, brands can own LAND spaces in the metaverse, setting up their stall and inviting users to experience their NFTs on their Sandbox travels. 

Some of the users of The Sandbox include Adidas, Ubisoft, Warner Music Group, Gucci and even Snoop Dogg. Each of these brands has bought the virtual terrain – of which there are 166,464 plots – and built their own virtual spaces. Brands and users alike are assisted in this with the building tools that The Sandbox supplies, allowing creators to design their own terrain, in-game mechanics and monetization system.

How Can You Get Involved With The Sandbox?

The native token in The Sandbox is known as SAND – an ERC-20 utility token built on the Ethereum blockchain - and your crypto can be converted through an exchange widget or bought outright from a crypto exchange. 

If you are looking to get involved in the community, then the experience is made easy through various live streams, courses and even curriculums if you require any extra help. The communities involved make it easy to ask questions, get answers and learn more about all the work that has been going into various pieces of LAND across the landscape.

In terms of creating an account, it is simply a case of visiting The Sandbox website and clicking on the “Sign In” option at the top-right of the page. It doesn’t cost you anything to join, and all you need is 2 ETH to buy a plot on any secondary market. 

With the price of Ethereum currently below its 2021 peak – due to the ongoing crypto winter – this could be the perfect time to build on your Ether portfolio and get involved. After all, why not? The Sandbox offers you the ability to not only own land but also rent your land out to creators. As well as this, you can become part of the ever-growing metaverse community, getting you familiar with the experience of decentralised connectivity before it becomes a staple of our everyday lives in the future.