Sandboxes are a type of MMO that emphasize player freedom and expression. They frequently include mechanics for building, crafting, trading, character customization and development, roleplaying, destruction, and significant interaction with the world and other players. A sandbox that is dominated by an open-PvP or free-for-all ruleset is sometimes pejoratively called a gankbox. Contrast with the themepark.
sandbox
Heidel Ball 2024: Black Desert is adding Seoul and the Dosa class, then going to the past
Given that Black Desert Online is celebrating its 10th anniversary with an event in the very town that inspired the game's first city (Heidel),...
The Stream Team: A fresh start in the survival sandbox of Palworld
Do you ever get the desire to hit the reset button on life? That's kind of what MOP's Chris is experiencing this Sandbox Saturday...
Bohemia’s multiplayer survival sandbox Ylands has officially landed on Switch for offline play
As we've been chronicling - and I might be a little obsessed with it now that I'm finally catching up on its existence, sorry...
Star Wars Galaxies Legends begins Empire Day, grants player Medics species- & gender-change tools
Don't look now, but we're only a couple of weeks away from the 4th of July, which means a whole slew of MMOs figuring...
Project Gorgon’s latest patch offers a new dungeon, horse racing, and harder hardcore living
Last week, we noted that indie MMORPG Project Gorgon was due for a foundational update this week, one that paves the way for even...
EVE Vanguard engages its latest subscriber-only playtest with new map and mechanics
Yesterday wasn't just the summer solstice; it was also the start of the Solstice event/playtest for EVE Vanguard, the integrated FPS mode of EVE...
Raph Koster’s nine Playable Worlds teasers (so far) hint at the MMORPG sandbox you always wanted
As we covered earlier in the week, Raph Koster's studio Playable Worlds has been tweeting what appeared to be a countdown accompanied by a...
Funcom’s Joel Bylos explains why Dune Awakening is an actual, factual MMO
In an era where game studios are either backpedaling on calling their MMOs "MMOs,"Â it's refreshing to see one studio come outright and take ownership...
Massively Overthinking: Unfair stigmas that follow MMORPGs
A few weeks back, our team was discussing the intersection of survival sandboxes, MMORPG virtual worlds, and gankboxes - and how hard it is...
MMO sandbox Fractured bumps launch to later in the summer than anticipated
Last night on Discord, Dynamight Studios' Jacopo Gallelli apologized to Fractured fans, telling them that among the eight-person staff, he was the person who...
Here’s how to watch the keynote for Black Desert’s Heidel Ball in a French castle this weekend
In case you have somehow missed in over the last few weeks of mentioning it, Black Desert is holding its summer community spectacle this...
Black Desert plans Heidel Ball watch party, deploys major combat and stat system update
This weekend is a big one for Black Desert, as Pearl Abyss is hosting Heidel Ball both inside and outside the game, and the...
The Stream Team: Peeking into Pax Dei and giving away two keys for the MMO
Today has brought another game into the wilds of early access: It's Pax Dei release week, and MOP's Chris is going to take a...
Valheim unveils plans for a board game, with a crowdfunding campaign opening in September
If you're a big enough fan of the Viking survival sandbox Valheim that you'd be willing to crowdfund a tabletop board game version, you're...
LOTRO Legendarium: Am I excited at all for Amazon’s Lord of the Rings MMO?
With all of the recent hullabaloo around New World, I've noticed several mentions of what this may portend for Amazon's Lord of the Rings...
RuneScape and OSRS are increasing the price of their RMT Bonds
The economy of both RuneScape titles are about to receive a shake-up, as Jagex announced that it's increasing the default price of a bond...
Pax Dei runs into server-related bugs and mixed reviews in its first day of early access
We are once again taking the time to look at the first day of an MMORPG's launch. As readers well know by now, Pax...
Massively OP Podcast Episode 473: How do you define an MMO?
Justin and Bree discuss EVE Online Equinox, EverQuest and EverQuest II expansions and progression servers, New World Aeternum, and Wayfinder's relaunch, with adventures in Project Gorgon, LOTRO, WoW, and Fallout 76, plus mailbag topics on balancing news coverage, Once Human, and defining MMOs.
Interview: Bohemia on multiplayer sandbox Ylands’ Switch release, Steam development, and games as a service
A few weeks back, we caught wind of a big change for Bohemia Interactive's cutesy multiplayer pirate sandbox Ylands: It's launching on Switch, but...
Choose My Adventure: Flying, dogfighting, and struggling with hardware in Star Citizen
Well, talk about a massive disappointment. After a bunch of attempts, tweaks, and some general stubbornness, I'm pretty much going to have to concede...
