4 min read Easy 19.3k

Installing an S&Box gamemode from sbox.game

Published on May 18, 2026 at 03:59 PM

How to install an S&Box gamemode (Sandbox, Walker, community gamemode, or local .sbproj) on your Wisp server at VeryCloud, step by step, with the why of the `org.name` format.

Introduction

In S&Box, a "gamemode" isn't a mod: it's a package distributed via the official sbox.game platform (formerly asset.party). Each package is identified by a strict organisation.name format and is downloaded automatically by the server at startup. No need to manually upload files like in GMod days.

This guide covers all 3 cases: public package, private (dev) package, and local .sbproj project.

Prerequisites

An active S&Box server at VeryCloud
The ident of the package you want to install (e.g. facepunch.sandbox)
For local projects: SFTP access to the server

Step 1: Find a gamemode ident

Go to https://sbox.game/ and search for the gamemode. The URL gives you the ident directly:

https://sbox.game/facepunch/sandbox
                  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
                  -> facepunch.sandbox

The slash becomes a dot. Everything in lowercase.

💡 If the package doesn't appear in searches, it may be private: you need to be friends with the creator or have explicit access via your Facepunch account.

Step 2: Configure the server to load this package

In the Wisp panel:

Open Startup
Change the GAME_PACKAGE variable to your ident, e.g. facepunch.sandbox
Optional: add a starting map in GAME_MAP, e.g. garry.scenemap
Save
Restart from the Console tab

Step 3: Watch the download

In the console during restart, you should see:

[CloudPackages] Downloading facepunch.sandbox...
[CloudPackages] Resolved facepunch.sandbox v123.4.5
[CloudPackages] Downloaded 145 MB
[Game] Loading scene...

The download goes through sbox.game CDNs. Usually fast (10-60 seconds) depending on package size. A large RP gamemode with custom assets can hit several hundred MB.

Step 4: Private package case (dev preview)

If you're developing your own gamemode and don't want to publish it:

Option A — Keep the package private on sbox.game

Publish the package on your sbox.game account as private. On the server, the ident remains yourorg.yourproject, but only players with package access can connect.

Option B — Load a local .sbproj

Upload your project directly to the server via SFTP, then point +game at the .sbproj:

+game /home/container/projects/mygame/.sbproj

In Wisp, open Settings → SFTP Details to get your credentials, then use a client like FileZilla or WinSCP to upload the full project folder.

⚠️ With a local .sbproj, connecting clients download the gamemode source code from your server (streaming). Slower than a cloud package, but it's the only way to run serverside-only code: packages published on sbox.game have their server code stripped.

Step 5: Switch gamemodes

To go from one gamemode to another:

Stop the server from console
Change GAME_PACKAGE in Startup
Save, then Start

💡 Always make a backup before switching gamemodes if you have persisted game data (map saves, DB, etc.).

Step 6: Force re-download of a package

If a package is buggy or got updated on sbox.game and your server has a stale cache:

Stop the server
Go to Files, navigate to cloud/packages/ (path varies by Wisp image)
Delete the package folder
Restart: it will be re-downloaded cleanly

Alternatively, use the Steam Update button in Settings.

Troubleshooting

Failed to resolve package facepunch.sandbox

Type the ident strictly lowercase
Check your connection to sbox.game (ping/curl from the node if you have console access)
Does the package exist? Go to sbox.game and verify

Server loads but map is black / empty

The specified map isn't compatible with the package
Try without +map: server will load the gamemode's default map

Download stuck at 0%

sbox.game CDN issue (rare)
Force a Reinstall from Settings

Package is public but requires authentication

May be in limited access (early access dev preview)
Contact the creator to get invited

Useful commands

# View loaded package state
# -> Console: status

# Force package reload (depends on gamemode implementation)
# -> Console: reload (varies by gamemode)

Conclusion

Installing an S&Box gamemode is trivial once you understand the org.name format: the server downloads everything itself from sbox.game. For projects in active dev, local .sbproj gives you total control at the cost of a bit more player-side latency.

Going further: add custom maps, configure admin permissions, tune the server for your gamemode.