I. About The Sand Squad
- Team Name: The Sand Squad
- Main Contact (Name & Role): Temio (Game Designer)
- Team Members & Roles: no other team members currently
- Are you a known builder in The Sandbox community?
Yes - Are you an existing studio?
No - Team location:
Germany
The Sand Squad launched in early 2022, founded by voxel artist and game designer Temio and supported by community of creators and partners. We released our first experience, Dysto GN Club, in May 2022 and became one of the first creator-led projects on the Sandbox map in July 2023. In April 2024, we launched The Lost Desert PVP – the first-ever PVP shooter in The Sandbox, with breakthrough logic enabling real-time combat even in older GM versions. With over 5,000 players and 50-minute average session times, it remains one of the most popular games in the Sandbox. The game was in the top in the Builders Challange 2 and was nominated for different awards 2024. We’ve proudly collaborated with top creators and communities such as Dystopunks, Octohedz, Sandstorm, AtariX etc.
More info here
II. Project overview
The Ultimate Deathmatch (DET) is a premier PVP tournament, launched in November 2024. It features elite 1v1 and team battles inside the Lost Desert.
The tournament is currently paused after DET1 due to lack of sponsorship – this proposal aims to reignite and expand the series.
Tournament Structure
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Leaderboard: Ongoing points system based on shooting match participation and wins. Matches are best-of-5 rounds.
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Monthly DET Events: Top 16 players battle in a knockout format for the title, prizes, and glory. Here are some details and structure of the DET1 event as example
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The Champion: The reigning champion earns a legendary NFT belt and can be challenged by the current #1 player on the Leaderboard anytime.
Player Engagement
Players are driven to climb the leaderboard, join weekend specials and participate in themed events. Matches are streamed on Twitch and X with recordings available here
III. Growth Plan
To scale the tournament, we propose 4 pillars of expansion:
1. New Arenas & Game Enhancements
- Partner with creators to develop new high-quality PVP maps beyond the Lost Desert. We want to add the suitable locations created by other studios or solo creators who can offer a high quality arenas to host the tournament fights. We believe that extending the content and adding new fight elements can bring more fun and activate more players. Also we want to motivate creators to build special locations and grow the shooting segment in the Sandbox adding more veraity and fun for the players. We want to rewards creators of the hosting locations to support them.
- Additionally we aim to improve the Lost Desert adding new logic and assets.
2. Dynamic Rewards System
- Offer attractive SAND rewards and exclusive assets to incentivize competition.
- Collaborate with sponsors and Sandbox to expand the prize pool.
- Reward not just winners but active community participants.
3. Long-Term Player Engagement
- Expand existing layered reward system tied to gameplay, Discord activity and XP.
- Build progression paths with claimable exclusive assets
4. Marketing & Outreach
Attract new players from the broader Web3 and gaming world.
Key strategies:
- Livestreamed events with giveaways
- Campaigns with high-profile streamers
- Golden Tickets & limited-edition rewards promos
IV. Budget Proposal – 50,000 SAND over 6 Months
A detailed budget breakdown to support 6 DET tournaments and continuous leaderboard action over 6 months:
1. SAND rewards
The SAND rewards are based on the current SAND value and can be adjusted if the value changes.
Main event prizes (each DET event - similar to DET1 event - see link to details above)
- winners each fight 1st round 60 SAND (480 SAND pool)
- winners 1/4 finals round 100 SAND each (400 SAND pool)
- winners 1/2 round 200 SAND each (400 SAND pool)
- winner final 300 SAND
1580 SAND per event / 9480 SAND for 6 events / 6 months
2. Assets rewards:
- for all who reach semi-finals speacial rare wearable sets 4 assets each > 4 players x 4 assets = 16 rare catalysts needed
Costs currently: 160 SAND for event / 960 SAND for 6 events / 6 months - Legendary asset for the winner
Costs currently: 200 SAND for event / 1200 SAND for 6 events / 6 months
If we can get the catalysts cheaper the remaining budget will be added to the Leaderboard & speacial fights pool
3. Leaderboard & speacial fights:
Fix budget for different special fights like champions challange fights etc: 600 SAND per month / 3600 SAND for 6 months
4. Creators support
- Fix budget for the creator who hosts the event on his location: 4000 SAND per month / 24000 SAND for 6 months
5. Special claimable assets (s. Long term enguagement)
- Create asset sets (voxel artist): 4 sets (uncommon, rare, epioc and legendary) = 16 assets. Fix budget 5000 SAND
- Catalysts costs:
40 uncommon (free, we have enough already)
20 rare - 200 SAND
12 epic - 480 SAND
4 legendary - 800 SAND
Total: 1480 SAND
If we can get the catalysts cheaper the remaining budget will be added to the Leaderboard & speacial fights pool
6. Marketing
- For different events, streams and giveaways:
Fix budget: 2000 SAND
7. Dev costs
- Extending the web page and adding logic to connect the logic for Leaderboard and event. Fix budget: 2280 SAND
Total: 50000 SAND
V. Strategic Benefits
- Player Retention – Daily, weekly, and monthly goals keep players returning.
- Creator Ecosystem Boost – Incentivizes UGC and arena development, growing the Sandbox shooter genre.
- Brand Visibility – Streams and social activations offer premium exposure for sponsors.
- Sustainable Growth – Reward system and game improvements ensure long-term value creation.
Let’s bring the next era of competitive PVP to The Sandbox together!
With your support, DET can grow into the flagship esport of the Sandbox!
Questions or interest in partnering? Let’s connect!