With
over
100k
players
monthly,
Sandbox
VR
is
rapidly
growing
its
global
footprint
with
thriving
corporate-owned
locations
and
a
robust
franchising
program.
The
company
topped
1.4
million
tickets
sold
in
2024.
An
average
Sandbox
VR
location
in
the
US
achieved
US$1.7
million
in
annual
revenue.
With a predominant presence in the US and Western Europe, Sandbox VR has grown the number of lifetime franchise operators 3x in 2024 alone, from 8 to 25 total operators. With this momentum, the company plans to operate 200 locations before the end of 2027.
Other notable investors in this round include Abacus Ventures Growth Fund, which has invested over US $1 million, and Hyphen Capital.
Robust Expansion Through Franchise Program
With over 100k players monthly, Sandbox VR is rapidly growing its global footprint with thriving corporate-owned locations and a robust franchising program.
Sandbox VR’s franchise program launched in 2019 for international markets and opened up for the US territories since April 2024. Franchising has been instrumental in making Sandbox VR the fastest-growing location-based VR startup globally, and this momentum signals continued rapid growth, the company said. Its first franchise opened in Singapore in 2019.
“We are passionate about creating the future of entertainment and giving people the opportunity to step into a whole new reality. After opening corporate-owned locations and seeing millions of players gear up to enter our immersive virtual reality experiences, work together toward a common goal, and create connections while being active and having fun, we were excited to expand our presence further,” said
Steve Zhao, Founder and CEO of Sandbox VR.“We knew franchising was a key component of scaling and that it was critical that we work with the right partners, operators who share our passion and believe in our vision. Today, we are thrilled to be working with esteemed franchise partners across the globe and look forward to collaborating with additional partners as our franchise program continues to flourish.”
Chibo Tang, Managing Partner at Gobi Partners, expressed confidence in Sandbox VR’s trajectory, “As a serial backer of Sandbox VR, we have witnessed the company’s remarkable evolution from pioneering immersive entertainment to becoming a global leader in location-based virtual reality. Their focus on global expansion, franchise scalability, proprietary VR technology, and innovative IP development sets them apart in the industry. We are proud to lead this latest round of funding and continue supporting Sandbox VR in its mission to redefine entertainment and create unparalleled experiences for players worldwide.”
Franchise Partners Remain Key to Success with Growth Opportunity in Asia
Asia remains a key market for Sandbox VR, with its strong corporate presence in Hong Kong and Singapore, and corporate-owned locations in Hong Kong, Macau and Shanghai.
Apparel Group, a global fashion and lifestyle conglomerate in the Middle East, partnered with Sandbox VR to bring virtual reality innovation to the region. Apparel Group has over 85 brands and over 2,200 stores across 14 countries. This collaboration will begin with 25 locations in the Middle East.
Sandbox VR’s UK and Ireland franchise partners, VR Entertainment Group, is proof of the strength of the Sandbox VR franchise program. They have launched three UK locations, two in London and one in Birmingham, and plan to open additional locations across the UK and Ireland. In London alone, VR Entertainment Group has seen a 16.8% increase in guests year-to-date and projects their 2024 revenue to top $5 million.
Sandbox VR is working with two franchise partners in Germany, NextLevel Erlebnisse GmbH and Royal Casino DGS GmbH. The former signed an agreement to open three locations in 2022. The success of their first locations led NextLevel Erlebnisse GmbH to expand their agreement in 2023 to 12 locations across West Germany by mid-2026. Franchise partner Royal Casino DGS GmbH executed an ambitious 12-unit deal to open locations across Northern and Eastern Germany by the end of 2026 after reading an article about Sandbox VR. Their first two locations, in Hamburg and Berlin, opened in 2024. With six locations currently open and many more to come, Germany is Sandbox VR’s largest international market.
What Sandbox VR is offering
Sandbox VR is creating the world’s most immersive full-body VR platform and experiences using proprietary, patented technology that combines full-body motion capture and high-quality haptics to provide unprecedented realism and complete immersion that’s not possible with home VR or other location-based VR platforms.
As of January 2025, Sandbox VR offers nine exclusive games, including original and branded experiences, such as Squid Game Virtuals, created in collaboration with Netflix. They are all developed by in-house AAA gaming studios in Hong Kong and Vancouver, led by game industry veterans and are specifically designed for groups to play as social experiences. Teams of up to six freely roam and explore virtual worlds together while relying on each other to succeed and to experience being the stars of their own action movie.
The list of Sandbox VR immersive entertainment experiences
Rebel
Moon:
The
Descent –
Images
available
HERE |
The
newest
Sandbox
VR
experience
and
second
partnership
with
Netflix,
Rebel
Moon:
The
Descent
allows
you
to
enter
the
thrilling
sci-fi
franchise
that’s
taken
the
world
by
storm. |
Deadwood
PHOBIA –
Images
available
HERE |
The
latest
installment
of
VR’s
most
iconic
zombie
series,
Deadwood
PHOBIA
takes
players
into
a
derelict
medical
facility
crawling
with
unprecedented,
mind-bending
horrors. |
Squid
Game
Virtuals
–
Images
available
HERE |
Compete
against
your
crew
in
several
pulse-pounding
(yet
more
approachable,
but
just
as
thrilling)
mini-games
inspired
by
the
#1
Netflix
series.
Play
again
and
again
to
experience
and
master
all-new
games
and
challenges. |
Seekers
of
the
Shard:
Dragonfire
–
Images
available
HERE |
Journey
through
a
world
of
fantasy
and
explore
a
ruined
fortress,
an
underground
river,
a
haunted
tomb
and
the
dragon’s
tower
as
you
become
Seekers
of
the
Shard. |
Deadwood
Valley
–
Images
available
HERE |
Engage
in
an
adrenaline-pumping
thrill-ride
through
a
town
overrun
by
zombies.
Your
squad
could
stop
the
zombie
menace
forever
–
or
die
trying! |
Deadwood
Mansion
–
Images
available
HERE |
Do
you
have
what
it
takes
to
survive
a
zombie
apocalypse?
Work
with
your
team
to
protect
Deadwood
Mansion
from
a
terrifying
horde
of
undead. |
Curse
of
Davy
Jones
–
Images
available
HERE |
Battle
on
the
high
seas
against
a
variety
of
supernatural
creatures
and
hunt
for
the
long-lost
treasure
of
Davy
Jones. |
Amber
Sky
2088
–
Images
available
HERE |
Become
heroic
Androids
equipped
with
futuristic
weapons
and
soar
through
the
clouds
on
a
space
elevator
while
defending
Earth
from
an
alien
invasion. |
UFL:
Unbound
Fighting
League
–
Images
available
HERE |
Transform
into
a
futuristic
gladiator
and
compete
against
your
friends
in
thrilling
duels
in
a
breathtaking
arena
beyond
the
limits
of
reality. |
To
learn
more
about
Sandbox
VR
franchise
opportunities,
please
visit
https://franchise.sandboxvr.com
https://sandboxvr.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/sandboxvr
Hashtag: #SandboxVR
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