In a recent conversation that dives deep into the evolution of user-generated content and virtual ownership, Sebastien Borget, Co-founder and COO of The Sandbox, discusses with Luca Ioannis on Animoca Brands’ YouTube Channel how the platform is building the foundations of a fully decentralized creator economy. Joined by members of the ecosystem and partnerships team, the interview explores the technology, philosophy, and long-term vision behind empowering millions of creators in the metaverse.
From tool development to revenue models, from avatar systems to interoperability, Borget explains why The Sandbox is no longer just a voxel-style game, but an expanding digital nation powered by creativity.
A Vision Rooted in Empowerment
Borget opens the discussion by revisiting The Sandbox’s origins. The mission has always been simple, he says, but incredibly ambitious:
”Give anyone the power to create a world and own it.”
This idea guided the early shift from a mobile game studio into a blockchain-powered metaverse. By allowing creators to build environments, characters, and experiences that they truly own, The Sandbox began to reshape how virtual worlds operate.
“We believed players should not just play in worlds,” Borget explains, “they should build them, share them, monetize them, and retain full ownership.”
The Tools Behind a New Creative Economy
A major segment of the interview covers the expanding suite of creation tools:
VoxEdit
A 3D editor that allows creators to design assets, characters, equipment, and wearables. Borget emphasizes that its accessibility is key. “You don’t need to be a professional modeler. What matters is imagination.”
Game Maker
The no-code game engine powering Sandbox experiences. Partnerships lead members describe how Game Maker enables anyone—artists, brands, musicians, or everyday users—to build interactive games without writing a single line of code.
Avatar System
With the new avatar features, users can bring their own identity into the metaverse. “Interoperability is essential to us,” Borget notes. “Avatars should travel across experiences, not stay trapped in one.”
Building a Sustainable Marketplace for Creators
The conversation moves toward monetization, one of the most defining pillars of The Sandbox ecosystem.
Borget explains that creators can earn revenue through:
- Selling ASSET NFTs
- LAND development
- Branded collaborations
- Ticketed experiences
- Seasonal events and competitions
- Royalties from secondary markets
“The core of our economy is simple,” he says.
Creators generate value, and they should capture that value.
The Sandbox team highlights how the marketplace acts as an economic engine, with thousands of verified creators already earning income from their digital work.
Brands, Partnerships, and Cultural Expansion
A significant portion of the interview touches on the power of partnerships. The Sandbox has collaborated with global names such as:
- Snoop Dogg
- Ubisoft
- Gucci
- Warner Music
- Atari
- Hundreds of independent artists and studios
According to Borget, these aren’t just marketing collaborations. They expand the cultural richness of the world and create new opportunities for user-generated experiences.
“Every partnership brings new communities into the metaverse,” he says.
“Creators build the spaces, the stories, and the culture that those communities participate in.”
Interoperability and Web3 Principles
Borget reiterates that decentralization is the backbone of The Sandbox. The goal isn’t simply to host games but to create an open metaverse where identity and assets travel freely.
Key principles he emphasizes include:
- True digital ownership
- Open standards
- Cross-platform compatibility
- Community governance
- Incentivizing creativity through tokenized rewards
He describes The Sandbox not as a product, but as an ecosystem evolving through its creators.
Looking Ahead: Seasons, AI Tools, and Scaling to Millions of Users
In the final part of the interview, Borget and his team speak about upcoming improvements:
- AI-powered creator tools to simplify building
- New seasonal structures that reward active players and creators
- Enhanced multiplayer features
- Creator academies and training programs
- Heavy investment in onboarding new studios and independent builders
Their long-term vision is clear:
“A metaverse where millions of creators build, share, and thrive economically—without barriers.”
A Future Built by Its Community
The interview closes with a reminder that The Sandbox is still in its early stages, but the community continues to shape what it becomes. Borget highlights that the creators, not the platform, define the metaverse’s identity.
“The Sandbox is not our world,” he concludes.
“It’s everyone’s world. Our role is to give creators the tools, the ownership, and the economic freedom to build the future.”
