The Sandbox (TSB) has announced the Retro Game Jam, a new event inviting creators to build throwback-style games. This comes right after the platform launched its first NFT Advent calendar for the holiday season. Both events close out a year of major change for the virtual platform, which has seen internal restructuring, new feature rollouts, and ongoing seasonal updates.

A New Game Jam to Celebrate Retro Gaming

The Retro Game Jam began accepting entries on November 27 and runs through December 23. The event calls on creators to build games inspired by the early days of gaming. That includes arcade-style challenges, pixel visuals, or simple control schemes seen in classic titles.

The Sandbox encourages entries that use retro-inspired visuals, music, and UI, while offering modern spins on old gameplay styles. As with past events, creators will get access to the platform's asset library and templates to speed up the process.

A workshop was held on December 5 to guide newcomers, and entries are due by 5:00 p.m. UTC on December 23. Winners will be announced during a live Twitch event on January 17.

Retro Game Jam Prizes and Alpha Season Spotlight

The event offers several types of rewards, including a 150,000 $SAND prize pool, CATALYST packs, and LAND NFTs. 10 standout entries will also be featured in the next Alpha Season, with each selected creator receiving 10,000 $SAND and a 1x1 LAND.

For the main prize pool, the top entry will earn 10,000 $SAND and a Gold CATALYST Pack. 2nd and 3rd place will receive 8,000 and 5,000 $SAND, along with Silver Packs. The 4th to 10th best entries will take home smaller amounts of $SAND and either Silver or Bronze Packs. Up to 10 additional games may get honorable mentions, each earning 1,000 $SAND.

Games chosen for the next Alpha Season will receive their own separate rewards. These include 10,000 $SAND, a 1x1 LAND, and a featured slot in the upcoming content lineup. 

Participation Prizes and Tools

The first 100 valid entries will also receive a CATALYST Pack as a participation reward. This is meant to encourage quick submissions ahead of the December 23 deadline. All entries are judged based on creativity, gameplay, and use of retro themes.

To help developers build their games, The Sandbox recommends using its Game Maker templates. These include options for tower defense, survival, RPG mechanics, and more. Asset libraries launched in version 0.11 are available as well, giving creators access to pre-made 3D items sorted by theme.

Just Days After Season's Greetings 2025 Launch

This Game Jam announcement closely follows the release of TSB's Season's Greetings 2025. That holiday event, which began on December 1, introduced the platform's first NFT Advent calendar.

The calendar NFT unlocks 24 mini-games across 24 days. Each daily game offers a seasonal NFT designed by one of 13 contributing artists. Players can mint the calendar pass for 20 $SAND and complete quests to earn collectible rewards through December 31.

A life-sized Advent calendar exists in the game world, where players complete challenges tied to each door. All quests must be completed on or after their unlock date. Players can return later to claim missed rewards until the event ends at 14:00 UTC on December 31.

The final reward, revealed on December 24, is a Cozy Yéti Avatar. This exclusive NFT is earned by completing the final quest and acts as a collectible character in the game.

A Smaller Holiday Event Compared to 2023

The 2025 version of Season's Greetings marks a shift from the large-scale event of 2023. Two years ago, the holiday celebration featured over 60 experiences and 600,000 $SAND in prizes. That earlier event included branded experiences tied to IPs like The Walking Dead and Warner Music.

In contrast, this year's event is more focused on NFT collectibles rather than token prizes. The calendar format allows open access to all players and does not require land or avatar ownership. 

2025 Marked by Internal Restructuring

These seasonal events arrive during a year of major change at The Sandbox. In August, the platform confirmed a wave of internal shifts. Co-founders Arthur Madrid and Sebastien Borget stepped out of executive roles, with Robby Yung of Animoca Brands taking over as CEO. Both founders remain involved but now work in non-executive positions.

The company also reduced staff and closed offices in regions like Argentina, Turkey, and South Korea. The Sandbox now runs operations from 9 core locations and no longer includes remote freelancers in its workforce.

These changes are part of a move toward leaner operations. The team has also integrated AI tools to speed up game development and content moderation.

Alpha Seasons Continued Despite Market Pressure

Despite downsizing, The Sandbox has run 2 full Alpha Seasons in 2025. Alpha Season 5 launched in April and offered over 40 playable experiences with more than $1 million in SAND and NFT prizes. That season introduced new mechanics, including Ethos Points and upgraded movement like flying and double-jumping tied to special NFTs.

Alpha Season 6 followed in September. It used a Premium Pass system priced at 30 $SAND and featured Cirque du Soleil content. Players could earn SAND by progressing through 35 levels, with rewards split between free and Premium tracks. That season included a 250,000 $SAND prize pool and several exclusive avatars.

Both seasons kept the leaderboard-based competition format and added new themes, movement systems, and story content for pass holders.

Game Client Updates: Improved Player Tools

Apart from events, TSB updated its game client to version 0.12 earlier this year. The new build brought improved multiplayer options, live chat, and quick-play lobbies. Players can now view public rooms, browse 3D NFT galleries, and match with others in real time.

NPCs also got updates. New companion and healer roles were added to improve solo and multiplayer quests. Visual polish, better lighting, and autosave features made it easier for players to stay in-game longer.

Ending the Year with a Creative Focus

With the Retro Game Jam and Season's Greetings 2025 running side by side, The Sandbox is closing out the year with a focus on community-made content and festive collectibles. 

Submissions for the Game Jam are open until December 23, while the Advent calendar runs through December 31. As the year winds down, these events offer players and creators a chance to jump back in, experiment with new ideas, and take part in the final moments of 2025 on the platform.