Sandbox and Decentraland are two popular metaverses, but which one is better? Our guide offers an in-depth comparison of Sandbox vs Decentraland, covering features, gameplay, community, and more, to help you decide which one is right for you.
The “Metaverse” is a blend of virtual reality and mixed reality environments that can be accessed via a website or headset. The Metaverse market is expected to reach $800 billion by 2024.
Big Tech companies are investing millions in the Metaverse. Standing out from the crowd are two of the most well-funded and popular metaverse platforms: Sandbox and Decentraland. In this blog, we will compare the two and analyze some of their crucial parameters before you set off on your Metaverse adventure.
Sandbox
Launched in 2011, as a blockchain-based virtual world, Sandbox transitioned to a gamer-friendly metaverse platform in 2017. In this metaverse game, players have more options than merely purchasing land and constructing buildings.
The Sandbox takes advantage of the best blockchain education to enable everyone to take part in its development. The idea combines the greatest features of NFTs and DAOs to empower the ever-expanding gaming community.
The 166,464 parcels of land in The Sandbox may be divided into districts or estates, each of which is owned by a single person (owned by 2 or more people). The Sandbox features four different kinds of tokens:
- LAND
- GAMES
- ASSETS
- SAND
Decentraland
Decentraland, an immersive and captivating 3D metaverse, was first launched in the year 2017 with a focus on letting users own land parcels while also letting them explore the vast virtual environment. Due to its adaptability and simple creation process, Decentraland has become one of the most popular metaverses for beginners.
90,601 land parcels in Decentraland are divided into individual plots, estates (many plots), districts (plots with a common concept), and plazas (untradable community-owned parcels). The three sorts of tokens in Decentraland are:
- MANA
- WEAR
- LAND
Sandbox Vs Decentraland: A Comparison
Now that we have a brief overview of both the metaverse platforms, it’s finally time to address the most important question — which metaverse is better for you: Sandbox Vs Decentraland?
Let’s find out.
Project Age
When comparing Sandbox and Decentraland, the age of the projects becomes a crucial factor. In this aspect, Decentraland takes the lead. It pioneered the development of a virtual world as its core product and established a 3D blockchain metaverse. Furthermore, Decentraland was the first to publicly showcase a functional proof of concept, while Sandbox is currently operating in an Alpha version.
Sandbox Vs Decentraland: Working Method
The Sandbox and Decentraland both function in the same way when viewed in a more general sense. When you zoom in through the lens of operation, there is a lot to unravel.
Both platforms have a degree of decentralization. The Sandbox, in contrast to Decentraland, does not function as a DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization). However, the minting and trading of NFT can be paid using tokens, MANA, and SAND.
Sandbox Vs Decentraland: Financial Backing
The Sandbox vs Decentraland comparison also takes the financial backing provided for each system into account. For cash flows, both platforms rely on venture capital (VC) companies. The South Korean government, Samsung, Polygon, Digital Currency Group, FBG Capital, and Cyberpunk are some of the organizations that support Decentraland.
One of Sandbox’s primary sponsors is the Japanese global company SoftBank, which specializes in financial management. Additionally, it has financial support from several well-known businesses, like Slack and Uber.
Sandbox Vs Decentraland: Wallet Support
The interoperability of wallets between the two metaverse systems would be the next crucial aspect to consider. You can use any ERC-20 wallet in both projects’ exchanges.
Decentraland has recently added a feature to connect it with Walletconnect. As a result, it could make it possible for Polygon users to take part in Decentraland.
Thus, in terms of wallet support, Decentraland is the clear winner.
Sandbox Vs Decentraland: Scalability
Because Sandbox and Decentraland are built on the Ethereum blockchain, scalability is a concern with both of them. Due to unstable tokens and high gas prices, the systems’ potential to scale is constrained. Therefore, the widespread adoption of both metaverse platforms may experience a few hurdles. However, the situation has gradually improved.
Both services now make use of Polygon, Ethereum‘s Layer 2 scaling solution that reduces the cost and energy required for token transfers.
Sandbox Vs Decentraland: Ease of Use
The process of buying virtually on both platforms also defines their user experience and set them apart from one another. Users may create games, galleries, concerts, casinos, and whatever else they can think of using the tools provided by Decentraland and The Sandbox.
Some of the notable features of Sandbox Toolbox are stated as follows:
- 3D modeling software
- Game maker
- Sandbox Marketplace
- Avatar creation and customization
Decentraland features the following elements:
- Drag and drop editor
- Decentraland Marketplace
- Support social interaction using text, audio, and images
Sandbox Vs Decentraland: Purchasing Land
Decentraland restricts consumers from making purchases via the MANA marketplace. On the other hand, Sandbox utilizes both OpenSea and the Sandbox marketplaces to provide consumers with greater possibilities for purchasing a virtual property. This gives Sandbox the upper hand.
Sandbox Vs Decentraland: Innovation
Determining the difference between Decentraland and Sandbox also depends on factors, such as the rate of growth. Both platforms are advancing quickly and new features are being developed and introduced frequently. However, Sandbox takes the cake on this front because recently, it switched to Polygon NFT layer 2 technology, which consumes roughly 100 times less energy than Ethereum.
Sandbox Vs Decentraland: Collaboration
Collaboration across the platforms would be one of the most important factors in comparing Sandbox vs Decentraland. The popularity of metaverse platforms is increasing day by day due to affiliations with reputable and well-known brands.
Decentraland has made associations with Cyberpunk, Polygon, and Atari. On the other hand, Sandbox has partnered with many well-known brands, like OpenSea, CryptoKitties, The Walking Dead, Snoop Dogg, and many more.
Users of Decentraland can only purchase land NFTs within their marketplace as a result. It’s interesting to see that Atari has staked out property on The Sandbox.
Decentraland Vs Sandbox: Platform Accessibility
When assessing and comparing both projects, an important factor to consider is the accessibility of their platforms. Sandbox stands out for its user-friendly approach, offering various options for users to interact seamlessly. You can connect to The Sandbox using your Metamask wallet, email, or social media account. In contrast, Decentraland limits access to those connecting through a wallet.
Decentraland Vs Sandbox: Adoption
Decentraland’s community has rapidly grown, reaching over 300,000 monthly users, fueled in part by global lockdowns. Brands like Coca-Cola and Samsung have embraced Decentraland for marketing ventures and virtual experiences. Coca-Cola’s NFT goods are available for buying and selling within Decentraland, while Samsung’s digital store, “Samsung 837X,” offers gamers an adventure with NFT rewards.
Meanwhile, The Sandbox enables users to create and trade virtual assets pixel by pixel, granting greater flexibility compared to Decentraland. Both platforms serve as versatile spaces for business meetings and social gatherings, with entities like Consensys choosing Decentraland for such events.
Final Verdict: Decentraland vs Sandbox: Which is a Better Metaverse?
This Sandbox vs Decentraland analysis provides a fair analysis of both platforms. Apart from a functioning prototype made by Decentraland, it has also demonstrated a functional proof of concept, whereas Sandbox is currently in the Alpha stage.
The Sandbox seems to have won the debate between The Sandbox and Decentraland when taking into account general user accessibility, gameplay specialization, graphics, and a more precise roadmap. The introduction of the platform on mobile devices is at the center of Sandbox’s clear strategy for its future development.
Additionally, the platform intends to expand to consoles like the PlayStation and Xbox. By the end of 2023, the portal also intends to provide roughly 5000 games.
If you can’t decide, think about trying both and seeing which suits you best.
