Garry Newman Admits s&box Failure, Vows Free-to-Play Pivot
Garry Newman, creator of Garry's Mod, has publicly apologized for the poor reception of his latest project, s&box. The game, intended as a spiritual successor to the 2008 hit, launched in April 2026 with mixed reviews and low player counts. Newman stated he is 'ashamed' and 'embarrassed' by the outcome, acknowledging that the team was unprepared. In a major strategic shift, Facepunch Studios announced s&box will transition from a $10 purchase to a free-to-play model by the end of the year. The studio also plans to abandon its custom backend in favor of the Steam Workshop and prioritize player experience over developer tools.
