Build and Share Your Own Games in ‘POPULATION: ONE’ Sandbox, Out Today PlatoBlockchain Data Intelligence. Vertical Search. Ai.

Build and Share Your Own Games in ‘POPULATION: ONE’ Sandbox, Out Today

POPULATION: ONE is known for its intense battle royale matches and a constant stream of content that introduces new ways to play. And today, it just got better! With the launch of POPULATION: ONE Sandbox in early access, a user-generated game creator, you are limited only by your imagination. You can build your own games from scratch, make your own rules, and check out endless content with friends. Games can be saved at any stage and friends can be a part of the build process, offering an entirely new social experience.

If you aren’t a creator, no worries. You can explore one of the many community-created games (over 1,000!) or check out playlists for quick play matches. For those that just want to hang out with friends, BigBox VR has you covered. A brand-new hangout mode offers just that—the ability to chill, fly, or play an impromptu game with your own rules.

POPULATION: ONE Sandbox is available on Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest Pro, PCVR, and Rift.

After you launch the game, look for the “SANDBOX EARLY ACCESS” buttons next to the “PLAY” tab in the main menu. Click “Explore Games” or “Build Games” to see everything Sandbox has to offer. Browsing through the huge library of games is a breeze. You can either search for games individually or scroll through curated playlists that feature some of the most popular and adventurous content. And once you start playing, you don’t have to go back to the lobby—at the end of each match, you and your friends can vote for the next map to keep the fun going.

POPULATION: ONE, the battle royale game that players know and love, will continue to evolve alongside Sandbox. We spoke to BigBox VR Founder and Head of Studio, Chia Chin Lee, and Producer Casey White about Sandbox and what it brings to the game, and how fast and accessible it is to start creating your own maps.

How long has the team been working on Sandbox? Where did the idea first come from?

Chia Chin Lee: We’ve been building Sandbox since the start of 2022. The idea dates back to 2016, however, at the inception of BigBox VR. Our first priority was to launch the battle royale component of POP1 and jump start a passionate community. And as we grew into one of the biggest multiplayer FPS games on the Quest Platform, we knew it was the right time to bring Sandbox to life with the help of our creative community.

There aren’t many examples of UGC in VR. Did you look to other types of apps and games for inspiration?

Casey White: We examined UGC games both within VR and outside of VR, and noticed the similarities between them. These include a way to “like” or “favorite” a game, easily discover new content from a list of suggestions, and the ability to bring everyone together to a centralized space while still surfacing a variety of experiences. Following these examples, we added the ability to like a game, created a “Top Games” list, and developed our Sandbox Room List—a server browser to find friends. These features make the UGC feel alive with social proof.

Our development approach with Sandbox is not strictly based on just one example. We’ve been working with our early access community since the beginning of 2022, and learned from them on what’s needed to make Sandbox a fun and unique experience that builds upon the foundation of POPULATION: ONE.

How easy is it to start building a new game using the provided tools? Can you collaborate with friends in real time?

CW: It’s surprisingly easy! Without much prior map building experience, I was able to open our Builder Menu, start with the snow template (there are three templates available: snow, foothills, and Moon), and construct a game that takes place at a ski resort.

Players have quickly brought ideas to life within a few hours. A creator who received a demo at 10 am was able to construct a fun game by our 4 pm playtest! No coding skills are needed, and everything takes place in the headset.

And yes, players can collaborate with their friends and build together. Sandbox is best when experienced in real time with others. We want it to be a fun social space that is constantly evolving. Our community has already hosted two “Build-A-Thons” to encourage group building.

Even if you’re not a builder, it’s okay! Players who don’t create content can easily jump right in and check out new games in our playlists. You can like the games you’ve enjoyed and vote on what to play next in the playlist. Feedback like this will help surface the most-loved maps in our game.

What has the reaction been like from playtesters?

CW: We’re very grateful our playtesters have been with us since the beginning of Sandbox’s creation. They’ve pointed out experiences that didn’t work and given us positive feedback to identify what does fit. I can’t wait to see everyone’s reactions once we go live!

Build and Share Your Own Games in ‘POPULATION: ONE’ Sandbox, Out Today PlatoBlockchain Data Intelligence. Vertical Search. Ai.

Do you have any favorite custom games that people should check out?

CW: My favorite games include “Lily Pad” which takes place on a pond with cute frogs, and can be played on land or underwater. Another one is “Checkmate,” which is played on a chess board amongst the pawns!

What excites you the most about Sandbox?

CW: We’re most excited to see what the community comes up with! Sandbox is one of those game experiences that surprises you each time because there’s always something new. There have been a few times that players have invited me to their game and I’ve been blown away with how they’ve bent the game rules of a typical Team Deathmatch game to create an entirely new way of playing. With their creative superpowers, the community will have an even greater impact on this new era of POP1.

What are some basic tips players should know before they start creating their own maps and games?

CW: Yes, I have some simple suggestions!

  1. First time building: Try checking out some other games where creators have selected “allow copies.” These will show up under the “Copyable Games” drop-down menu. It’s always nice to see some good examples!
  2. Bigger isn’t always better: If you’re aiming to make a good level that plays well, don’t feel like you have to fill up the entire buildable space. Sometimes the smaller maps end up having better gameplay.
  3. Ping the community: We have a great community on Discord. Feel free to ping the Sandbox Channel if any questions come up or if you feel stuck!
  4. Check out these videos for some additional tips and Sandbox info.

What can players expect in future Sandbox updates?

CW: Seasonal updates are in the works and are highly requested by the community. We’re feeling festive this holiday, hint, hint. ❄️

As a live service game, players will continue to see updates both in POP1 and in Sandbox.


Try out Sandbox’s creation tools yourself (or play a few maps!) today in POPULATION: ONE. If you haven’t picked up the game yet, you can grab it on Quest 2 + Pro and Rift for $29.99 USD.

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