The Sandbox was founded in 2011 by Arthur Madrid and Sébastien Borget. Both have now become the company’s CEO and COO, respectively. The project was initially started on mobile platforms, which to date have gathered over 40 million global installs. After creating mobile games, they took the opportunity to develop a 3D multiplayer platform using blockchain technology in 2017. This game was created to offer a virtual world where players can own, build, and own their gaming experiences. Within this game, players are free to choose the activity they want to experience. The aim is to bring blockchain into mainstream gaming, attracting both crypto and non-crypto game enthusiasts. In 2018, The Sandbox was acquired by a Hong Kong-based software company, Animoca Brands.
Following the development of this blockchain-based game, The Sandbox has built the ground to establish the Players and Creators 100% Ownership Economy with LANDS and NFTs. The team held an initial coin offering (ICO) in August 2020 and managed to raise 3.4 million USD from strategic investors to fund the development of The Sandbox. Since then, the platform has received various investments and notable partnerships.
The Alpha launch of The Sandbox metaverse occurred on 29 November 2021, after four years of development.