Facepunch Studios has confirmed that s&box will become free-to-play on Steam on December 10, 2026. Players who own the PC sandbox platform before the transition will receive exclusive Steam inventory items that will no longer be available to obtain through new purchases after the switch.
The developer announced the date in its November 10 development update, titled “New Moves.” The announcement establishes a firm deadline for the free-to-play transition, following Facepunch’s earlier commitment to remove the game’s purchase requirement before the end of 2026.
Facepunch has not revealed which exclusive items existing owners will receive. The studio says it will announce the rewards soon, but has not provided a distribution date or details about their appearance, functionality or trading restrictions.
The December 10 deadline also clarifies eligibility for players considering purchasing s&box before it becomes free. Anyone who owns the platform before the transition will qualify for the exclusive inventory rewards, while players joining after the switch will not receive those items through the same offer.
The free-to-play announcement follows a broader change in direction outlined by Facepunch founder Garry Newman on October 13. Newman acknowledged concerns about charging players for access while also selling cosmetic items and said removing the entry fee could help attract more players.
Under the original plan, existing purchasers were promised exclusive Steam inventory rewards, with additional items for those who paid $20 rather than $10. The November update confirms the transition date and ownership deadline but does not provide further details about those reward tiers.
S&box is Facepunch’s sandbox gaming and creation platform, developed as a spiritual successor to Garry’s Mod. It allows players and developers to build, publish and play community-created games and experiences.
Alongside the free-to-play date, the November development update outlines several platform improvements. Facepunch is rebuilding the main menu around Steam Workshop, allowing users to discover, subscribe to and switch between community-created games more easily.
The redesigned menu is currently available as an optional preview, with Facepunch targeting its next major update for the default rollout. Developers will need to publish their games and maps to Steam Workshop for them to remain discoverable through the new interface.
Other improvements include built-in multiplayer voice chat, faster loading, upgraded environmental audio and AnimGraph 2, a new animation system offering additional tools for creators.
The switch to free-to-play removes the purchase requirement for newcomers on December 10, while giving existing owners exclusive Steam inventory rewards in recognition of their earlier purchases. Facepunch has yet to announce the exact items or when eligible accounts will receive them.
