Sandbox VR
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Sandbox VR does
Sandbox VR, Inc. is a San Francisco-headquartered (corporate mailing address in Pleasanton, CA) location-based virtual reality entertainment company founded in 2016 by Steve Zhao. It operates a global network of more than 80 physical venues across 13 countries and 5 continents, hosting roughly 150,000 monthly players and over 5 million lifetime players. Each venue consists of private "holodeck" rooms equipped with VR headsets, haptic vests, and proprietary full-body motion capture systems that allow groups of two to six guests to share immersive experiences simultaneously. The core technology stack combines the motion capture hardware, in-house content development, and exclusive licensed IP partnerships — most notably with Netflix for Squid Game Virtuals (over $50 million in lifetime ticket sales since 2023), Stranger Things: Catalyst, and Rebel Moon: The Descent, plus proprietary titles such as the Deadwood zombie trilogy, Age of Dinosaurs, and Amber Sky 2088.
The business model is primarily asset-light and franchise-driven: master franchise partners (Next Level Erlebnisse for Germany and Europe, Immexia Srl for Italy with a planned €60M investment and up to 40 venues, Apparel Group for 25 Middle East locations, LOL Entertainment for US East Coast, Solis Entertainment for Miami) operate the majority of venues globally. Sandbox VR corporate captures revenue from per-experience ticket sales ($39-$65 per person at US venues), recurring subscription memberships (3-Month Unlimited at $64.99/month, 6-Month at $54.99/month, plus a limited-time $150 Unlimited Summer Pass), gift cards, private events and corporate team-building bookings, in-venue food and beverage, franchise fees, and content licensing. Consumer segments include social and group entertainment seekers, corporate event clients, families with children, tourists in entertainment hubs like Las Vegas, and the franchisee operator base.
Sandbox VR has reached $300 million in cumulative lifetime sales since 2016, emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020-2021, and is currently scaling aggressively via the franchise model with new venue launches across the US (Baltimore, DC, Miami, Gilbert, Las Vegas, Sacramento, Fresno), Canada (Surrey, Vaughan, Ottawa), Europe (Vienna, Treviso, Nürnberg), and committed Middle East expansion. Institutional investors include Andreessen Horowitz (lead of the $37M Series B in November 2021, total funding approximately $119M) and Gobi Partners (lead of a $6.8M convertible note in January 2025).
Sandbox VR firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sandbox VR
- Legal name
- Sandbox VR, Inc.
- Website
- https://sandboxvr.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sandbox VR industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Location-Based Virtual Reality Entertainment
- NAICS
- Amusement Arcades (71312)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- VR & Immersive Esports/LBE Venues (VR Arenas, Sim Racing Pods) (MPAFALAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- VR/AR/XR Game Studios (MPAFAAAE)
Keywords
Where Sandbox VR is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices19 records
Markets served
Sandbox VR business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Per-experience ticket sales: One-time ticket purchases for individual VR experiences, priced $39-$65 per person depending on location and experience. Standard pricing $55-$65 per person observed at US venues. Drives lifetime sales of approximately $300M across all venues.
- Unlimited membership subscriptions: Recurring monthly subscription passes (3-Month at $64.99/month and 6-Month at $54.99/month) providing unlimited weekday play and member benefits (20% off parties, 15% off F&B). Plus a non-renewing Unlimited Summer Pass at $150 upfront (valid through September 30, 2026). Available at participating corporate-owned locations in Chicago, Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Atlanta, and Murray.
- Gift cards: Digital and physical gift cards/vouchers redeemable at any Sandbox VR location. Current promotional offer: spend $100 get $20 bonus. Drives prepaid revenue and customer acquisition.
- Private events and parties: Higher-value group bookings including birthday parties, corporate events, team building, bachelor/bachelorette parties, graduations, school trips, and custom events. Includes private use of party rooms and AV-capable meeting spaces.
- Franchise fees and licensing: Revenue from master franchise partnerships and individual franchise operators globally (Apparel Group for Middle East, Immexia Srl for Italy with €60M planned investment for up to 40 venues, Next Level Erlebnisse for Germany, LOL Entertainment for East Coast US, Solis Entertainment for Miami). Franchises account for the majority of the 80+ global venue footprint.
- Food and beverage sales: In-store F&B offerings at participating locations (selected venues have bars and food service available). Subscription members receive 15% off food and beverage purchases.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Per-experience tickets from $39 |
| Subscription | Monthly | 3-Month Unlimited Membership Pass at $64.99/month |
| Subscription | Monthly | 6-Month Unlimited Membership Pass at $54.99/month |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Unlimited Summer Pass at $150 one-time |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Gift cards with promotional bonus |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
Sandbox VR product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sandbox VR operates a global network of location-based, full-body virtual reality entertainment venues where groups of up to six guests play together in private holodeck-style rooms equipped with motion capture technology, haptic vests, and VR headsets. The company delivers 11+ immersive experiences including licensed Netflix IPs (Squid Game Virtuals, Stranger Things: Catalyst, Rebel Moon: The Descent) and proprietary titles (Deadwood zombie trilogy, Age of Dinosaurs), supplemented by subscription memberships, private events, and gift cards across 80+ venues in 13 countries.
Product overview
Sandbox VR operates a single core platform — a global network of location-based, full-body virtual reality entertainment venues — augmented by a portfolio of 11+ immersive experience modules (including Age of Dinosaurs, Deadwood Phobia, Deadwood Mansion, Deadwood Valley, Squid Game Virtuals, Stranger Things: Catalyst, Rebel Moon: The Descent, Seekers of the Shard: Dragonfire, Amber Sky 2088, Curse of Davy Jones, and UFL). The company wraps this core experience offering with three subscription membership products (3-Month Unlimited Pass, 6-Month Unlimited Pass, and the limited-time Unlimited Summer Pass), a Parties & Events service for birthdays, corporate gatherings, and team-building, gift cards/vouchers, and a franchise opportunity program that powers its international expansion across more than 80 locations in 13 countries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Sandbox VR Full-Body VR Venue Experience
- Squid Game Virtuals
Quantifiable outcome
- $300 million in lifetime ticket sales since 2016 launch
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Sandbox VR
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Sandbox VR technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration9 records
Feature4 records
Sandbox VR partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- NetflixflagshipStrategic IP licensing and co-development partner for Sandbox VR's flagship immersive experiences. Netflix IP experiences include Squid Game Virtuals (created in collaboration with Netflix, surpassed $50 million in lifetime sales since 2023 launch), Stranger Things: Catalyst, and Rebel Moon: The Descent. Drives majority of franchise marketing and consumer demand; included as core exclusive content in all venues.
- Apparel GroupflagshipMaster franchise partner for Sandbox VR's Middle East expansion with a 25-location rollout plan. Part of Sandbox VR's broader international franchise-driven expansion across Europe, Canada, US, and the Middle East.
- Immexia SrlcoreExclusive franchise partner for Italy. Inaugural Treviso location opened January 26, 2026, operated by entrepreneurs Vito Scavo and Alessandro Bergamo. Plan to scale to up to 40 Italian locations with total planned investment exceeding €60 million. Initial Treviso investment €1.5 million.
- Next Level ErlebnisseflagshipGermany-based franchisee and Sandbox VR's largest franchisee worldwide. Leading the European expansion, which has accounted for more than half of all new openings over the past year. Operates venues in Germany (including Hamburg, Berlin, Mannheim, München, Münster, Nürnberg, Oberhausen, Osnabrück, Wiesbaden, Willingen, Weiterstadt, Giessen, Alsfeld) and is leading the Austria (Vienna) expansion.
- LOL EntertainmentcoreMulti-location franchise partner for Sandbox VR East Coast US expansion. Operates Sandbox VR venues in Philadelphia (opened April 23, 2025), Houston (opened January 23, 2026), Washington D.C. (CityCenterDC), and Baltimore (Harbor East, opened May 8, 2026). Marked the 60th US location milestone with the Philadelphia venue.
- Solis Entertainment LLCminorFranchise partner for Sandbox VR's Miami/Wynwood venue, opened June 10, 2026. Operates 7,000 sq ft entertainment space with five private VR rooms and Florida's first permanent robotic bartender named Toni. Targets local communities including Brickell, South Beach, and Coral Gables.
- Adyen, Checkout.com, Stripe, SquarecorePayment processing partners for Sandbox VR's ticketing, membership subscriptions, and gift card transactions. Use of these processors depends on the purchaser's location per Terms of Service. Process billing for membership passes (3-Month, 6-Month, Unlimited Summer Pass) and one-time experience purchases.
- European Data Protection Office (EDPO)minorAppointed as Sandbox VR's GDPR representative in the EU under Article 27. Also handles Swiss (EDPO Switzerland) and UK (EDPO UK Ltd) data protection representative roles. Located in Brussels, Belgium (EU), Geneva, Switzerland, and London, UK.
- CityCenterDCminorProperty/real estate partner hosting the Sandbox VR DC location at CityCenterDC in Washington D.C.
- Harbor East ManagementminorProperty/real estate partner and neighborhood manager for the Sandbox VR Baltimore location in Harbor East. Positioned as part of an entertainment hub that includes Harbor East Cinema and Coppermine Gym.
- Macerich (Fashion Fair mall)minorReal estate / mall partner; Sandbox VR opened its first Fresno, California location in the Macerich-owned Fashion Fair shopping mall, a regional mall adapting to experiential retail trends.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves27 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Sandbox VR competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Zero Latency: Zero Latency is a global operator of free-roam, multiplayer location-based VR experiences with venues in dozens of countries. It is the closest direct competitor to Sandbox VR in the warehouse-scale, group full-body VR category, sharing similar target customers (groups, parties, corporate events) and gameplay format.
- Two Bit Circus: Two Bit Circus operates micro-amusement parks combining VR, AR, and physical games for group entertainment in the US. It targets the same social-group, party, and corporate-event segments as Sandbox VR with multi-attraction venues.
- The VOID (defunct successor experiences via ILMxLAB/Disney): The VOID was a direct competitor offering location-based hyper-reality VR with major IP partnerships (Star Wars, Marvel, Ghostbusters) before shutting down in 2020. Its playbook of IP-licensed VR experiences at retail venues closely mirrors Sandbox VR's strategy.
- VR World NYC: VR World operates a multi-floor VR entertainment venue in New York City combining VR experiences, escape rooms, and event space. It serves a similar urban group-entertainment and private-events customer base as Sandbox VR.
- Immotion Group: Immotion Group designs, installs, and operates out-of-home VR experiences for venues including cinemas, aquariums, and FECs. It competes with Sandbox VR in the location-based VR segment with a B2B operator model rather than direct-to-consumer venues.
- HOLOGATE: HOLOGATE is a global provider of multiplayer VR attractions used in FECs, arcades, and entertainment venues. Its compact multiplayer VR systems target the same group entertainment use cases as Sandbox VR's holodeck rooms.
Emerging players
- Survios: Survios develops VR games and operates location-based VR experiences (including Creed and Rush VR titles). It overlaps with Sandbox VR in immersive group gameplay and licensed IP-driven experiences but is more focused on title development than global venue rollout.
Broad incumbents
- Dave & Buster's: Dave & Buster's is a major US chain combining dining, sports viewing, and arcade/VR games. While not a pure-play VR operator, it competes for the same group social-entertainment and corporate-event spend, and increasingly incorporates VR into its venue mix.
- Main Event Entertainment: Main Event is a US family entertainment center chain offering bowling, laser tag, VR, and food/beverage. It targets the same birthday-party, family-outing, and corporate-team-building segments that Sandbox VR serves.
Regional players
- Sandbox VR competitor: ANVIO VR: ANVIO VR operates free-roam multiplayer VR parks across Russia, CIS countries, and select international markets. It is comparable in offering group, full-motion VR experiences for parties and events, though its geographic footprint is largely distinct from Sandbox VR.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sandbox VR social profiles
Digital presenceSandbox VR compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance7 records
Sandbox VR financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sandbox VR leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Sandbox VR subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Sandbox VR funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds7 records
Investors24 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sandbox VR M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sandbox VR
What does Sandbox VR do?
Sandbox VR operates a global network of location-based, full-body virtual reality entertainment venues where groups of up to six guests play together in private holodeck-style rooms equipped with motion capture technology, haptic vests, and VR headsets. The company delivers 11+ immersive experiences including licensed Netflix IPs (Squid Game Virtuals, Stranger Things: Catalyst, Rebel Moon: The Descent) and proprietary titles (Deadwood zombie trilogy, Age of Dinosaurs), supplemented by subscription memberships, private events, and gift cards across 80+ venues in 13 countries.
Is Sandbox VR a public or private company?
Sandbox VR is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Sandbox VR founded?
Sandbox VR was founded in 2016. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Sandbox VR based?
Sandbox VR is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Sandbox VR make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Per-experience ticket sales are the primary driver. The others are unlimited membership subscriptions, gift cards, private events and parties, franchise fees and licensing and food and beverage sales.
Who are Sandbox VR's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Zero Latency, Two Bit Circus, The VOID (defunct successor experiences via ILMxLAB/Disney), VR World NYC, Immotion Group and HOLOGATE. Survios is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Dave & Buster's and Main Event Entertainment. Sandbox VR competitor: ANVIO VR is listed as a regional player.
Does Sandbox VR have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sandbox VR.
What industry is Sandbox VR in?
Sandbox VR's product category is Location-Based Virtual Reality Entertainment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFALAE, VR & Immersive Esports/LBE Venues (VR Arenas, Sim Racing Pods), with a secondary code of MPAFAAAE, VR/AR/XR Game Studios. Its NAICS code is 71312 and its SIC code is 7900.