Garry Newman responds to s&box criticism in lengthy YouTube comment: ‘I don’t like giving up on things, I am stubborn

Facepunch Studios founder Garry Newman has issued an extensive public response to critics of his UGC platform s&box, directly addressing a widely viewed video that condemned the game’s current state. Writing in a detailed YouTube comment responding to creator Eridium’s piece titled “S&box’s Free To Play Weekend Isn’t Enough,” Newman acknowledged the mounting frustration within the community while defending his refusal to abandon key design decisions he has made for the title.

The exchange arrives at a difficult moment for s&box, which launched five months ago as Facepunch’s ambitious attempt to build what many have called a Garry’s Mod successor for the modern era of user-generated content platforms like Roblox. Rather than celebrating that milestone, the game has become the subject of intense scrutiny from community creators who feel the platform is not living up to its potential.

The heart of the criticism

Eridium’s video laid out a pointed critique of several aspects of s&box that have drawn ire from players. Chief among these complaints was the game’s player character models, affectionately and derisively nicknamed “the citizen.” Despite community feedback suggesting changes to the design, Facepunch has declined to replace it—a stance Eridium characterized as stubborn intransigence.

Beyond the visual design of characters, the creator argued that the game’s poor first impression suggested it should have been delayed before launch. Additional concerns included a flood of low-quality games—particularly what many describe as AI-generated slop—that undermine discoverability for quality content. Newman had previously touched on this issue in an interview with Gamer24h.

Eridium also raised the matter of outreach from Facepunch itself, arguing that he already functions as an informal community manager and believes he could perform the role more effectively than the studio’s current approach.

Newman’s response

In his pinned comment beneath Eridium’s video, Newman offered a candid reflection on his relationship with the project. He did not shy away from acknowledging that problems exist, but framed his continued commitment to s&box as a matter of personal principle rather than stubbornness for its own sake.

“I don’t like giving up on things, I am stubborn.”

Garry Newman, Facepunch Studios

The statement captures the tension at the center of the debate. For critics, that same determination reads as inflexibility; for Newman, it represents a refusal to abandon a project he believes in despite legitimate challenges.

A community divided on next steps

The back-and-forth has resonated with a broader conversation about how developer and community expectations should align during early access. Facepunch built its reputation through titles like Garry’s Mod and Rust, games that grew into cultural phenomena over years of iteration. Fans now expect s&box to follow a similar trajectory, though the reality of building an entire UGC ecosystem from scratch has proven far more demanding.

The studio continues to monitor community feedback closely, with Newman engaging directly in comment sections rather than issuing polished corporate statements. Whether that hands-on approach will satisfy critics remains to be seen as s&box works through its growing pains.

Looking ahead

As s&box moves forward, the question of how Facepunch balances creative vision with community demands will define its trajectory. The platform’s first five months have demonstrated both enormous ambition and significant friction, and Newman’s willingness to engage directly suggests the studio intends to keep listening even as it pushes ahead with its plans.

Players and creators alike will be watching closely to see whether the developer’s stubbornness ultimately pays off or becomes a liability. For now, s&box remains a work in progress grappling with the same challenges that have made it one of the most discussed—and debated—releases of recent years.