‘Garry’s Mod’ Creator Issues Dire Update on Spiritual Sequel: ‘It Hasn’t Been Going Well’
Garry Newman says S&box, Facepunch Studios’ spiritual successor to Garry’s Mod, has struggled to attract and retain players since its April launch. He acknowledged poor reviews and said the studio had focused too much on development tools instead of the game experience, prompting a broad reset.
Facepunch plans to strengthen the core sandbox with more non-player characters and vehicles, better multiplayer, add-ons and customisation, while curating featured games and relying more on Steam Workshop. S&box has about 47% positive Steam reviews; Newman says it may become free-to-play towards the end of 2026, with existing owners receiving exclusive items.
- S&box has struggled to win over players.
- Facepunch plans major changes to the sandbox and discovery.
- The game may become free-to-play in late 2026.
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Garry’s Mod is a long-running sandbox game made by Facepunch Studios, where players use tools and community-made content to create their own experiences. S&box is the studio’s newer successor, intended to build on that idea with updated tools and games made by players.
Facepunch is the British studio behind both titles, and Garry Newman is its founder. The company’s plans for S&box matter to players and creators who want to know whether it will offer a lasting place to play, make and share custom content.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A broad reset is a reasonable response to evidence that S&box’s emphasis on development tools has not delivered the engaging experience players expected. Strengthening the sandbox, multiplayer and customisation, while improving how players discover community content, could make the game more welcoming and sustainable; a move to free-to-play could also widen access.
The case against
A reset and possible free-to-play shift may not solve the underlying problem of weak player interest, and could risk disappointing existing owners if the game’s direction or value changes. Focusing on curated experiences and Steam Workshop content may also narrow the open-ended approach that gave Garry’s Mod its appeal, while adding features could take time and resources without assuring stronger reviews or lasting engagement.