Facepunch Studios is preparing to launch s&box as a full-fledged sandbox creation platform, but the project’s identity is already sparking debate. Despite the studio’s insistence that s&box is not Garry’s Mod 2—describing it instead as a spiritual successor built on a custom engine—the idea of a sequel has dominated recent discussions. A recent poll on X, offering four naming options, revealed a clear preference: 66.6% of voters favored *Garry’s Mod 2*, far outpacing the original *s&box* (19.2%) and the self-deprecating *Crapbox* (11.4%).
The results, however, may not reflect the studio’s final decision. Garry Newman, founder of Facepunch, dismissed the poll’s outcome with blunt honesty, expressing a personal fondness for *Crapbox* and questioning the wisdom of crowd-driven naming. The studio has long framed s&box as a next-generation tool rather than a direct continuation, emphasizing its expanded capabilities—including an open-source framework designed to foster community development.
Beyond the name, s&box’s release in early 2026 marks a significant evolution. Unlike Garry’s Mod, which relied on Half-Life 2 assets, s&box operates on a proprietary engine with broader creative potential. Its open-source release—already available on GitHub—aligns with Newman’s vision of replicating Valve’s approach to ecosystem-building. The move suggests a commitment to democratizing game development, allowing modders and independent creators to contribute without financial barriers.
The studio’s philosophy mirrors Newman’s past gratitude toward Valve, which he credits for enabling Garry’s Mod’s success. By opening s&box’s codebase, Facepunch aims to create a collaborative environment where developers, rather than corporate gatekeepers, shape the platform’s future. Whether the final product retains *s&box*, *Crapbox*, or another name, the project’s technical foundation and community-driven ethos may redefine sandbox creativity.
What’s certain is that s&box’s arrival will test whether a fully open-source, engine-based sandbox can rival Garry’s Mod’s legacy. The debate over its name, however, underscores a broader question: Can a spiritual successor ever escape the shadow of its predecessor?
