How can survival sandboxes keep the challenge fresh?

Shawn and I have had several conversations about the conundrum present in Fallen Earth. Namely, that the first part of the game is really exciting because you get that cool feeling of scrounging for survival and clawing your way out of the wasteland -- but then this turns into a different game when "survival" makes way for "laser tag with high-tech gear in PvP zones."

It's made me wonder how MMOs that are being built with a survival sandbox angle are planning to keep that sense of challenge and building yourself up fresh. I think that there's a point in these games where you have accumulated and built enough to keep yourself comfortable unless the game deliberately removes that attained protection or keeps escalating the danger past the point of lunacy.

So this is our thinking exercise for the day: How can survival sandboxes keep the challenge fresh for players?

TH

Valid question, the constantly battles between players is the endgame content. Constantly keeping a hold of resources, battling for territory and handling politics.

The reason why this becomes a stupid question is because Fallen Earth is not a fucking sandbox. That's why the endgame isn't like a sandbox at all.

TH