The Sandbox Opens Pre-registration for 'NEXT' Mobile Battle Royale Playtest

The Sandbox, a leading immersive gaming platform and subsidiary of Animoca Brands, has announced a major expansion into mobile gaming.

On March 18, 2026, the company opened pre-registration for the playtest of 'NEXT,' its first dedicated mobile battle royale game.

This new title represents a significant technical shift for The Sandbox, as it is built on Unreal Engine, moving away from the Unity engine that has historically powered its platform.

The playtest, for which registration was free at sandbox.game/next, began on March 26, 2026, with limited spots on a first-come, first-served basis.

'NEXT' is designed as a fast-paced, replayable PvP battle royale experience, where players can carry over their identity, progression, and assets from the main The Sandbox platform.

The game offers two distinct maps: 'The Desert,' an open-terrain environment built around sightlines and long-range combat, and 'The City,' a vertical, close-quarters map that rewards adaptability.

Matches support solo play or multiplayer groups of up to 20 players per instance.

This mobile launch is a key part of The Sandbox's strategy to increase its reach and meet players on the devices where they spend their time.

As Robby Yung, CEO of The Sandbox, stated, 'The goal is to meet people where they spend their time.' This mobile push follows the introduction of browser-based games in Season 7 of The Sandbox, providing multiple frictionless entry points into its web3 ecosystem.

The platform leverages blockchain technology to provide true ownership of assets, creations, and rewards as NFTs.

With over 400 brand and IP partners, including Warner Music Group, Gucci, Ubisoft, and Snoop Dogg, the launch of 'NEXT' represents a significant step for one of the most established web3 entertainment brands, aiming to integrate its metaverse platform more deeply into the mobile gaming landscape [citation:8].