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Sandbox VR announces first Arizona location in Mesa. Sandbox VR is headed to Arizona, with plans to open its first Valley location this spring and additional venues slated to follow across the state over the next year. The global virtual reality entertainment company will enter the Phoenix market under the leadership of franchisees Andrew Perkinson and Tylor Hardy, marking the brand's debut in Arizona. The expansion introduces Sandbox VR to a new audience in the Valley, where the company aims to deliver its premium, ticketed immersive entertainment experience. Perkinson and Hardy, childhood friends and former college roommates, reunited after decade-long careers in institutional real estate to bring the concept to the Valley. The first Arizona location is expected to open this spring, with further announcements planned in the coming months. Sandbox VR is designed as a location-based virtual reality destination that combines proprietary full-body tracking technology with cinematic storytelling. Guests enter custom-built environments where their movements are tracked in real time, allowing them to physically interact with one another and their surroundings inside a shared virtual world. The experience is structured to dissolve the boundary between audience and story, placing participants inside the narrative rather than observing from the sidelines. Through partnerships with major platforms such as Netflix, Sandbox VR offers exclusive experiences tied to recognizable intellectual properties. Guests can step into storylines inspired by series including "Stranger Things" and "Squid Game," transforming familiar characters and settings into interactive adventures. The company also produces original content, including its "Deadwood" series, developed specifically for the platform. "The magic of Sandbox VR lies at the intersection of these IPs and characters we love, the people we love to play with, and this incredible sensory environment," says Matthew Kellie, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Sandbox VR, in a press release. " There is no other experience on earth that can so completely immerse and transport you to another time & place. Sandbox VR is the world's premier immersion technology, you're really inside the story in a way that you can't get anywhere else. It's exhilarating." Experiences are designed for groups of two to six participants, positioning Sandbox VR as a social entertainment option for date nights, family outings, birthday parties, bachelor and bachelorette celebrations, and corporate events. After each session, guests receive a personalized cinematic trailer capturing highlights from their experience, which can be shared and replayed. The venues are purpose-built for group engagement, offering an alternative to traditional off-site meetings and team-building events. Businesses can host gatherings that emphasize collaboration and problem-solving in an interactive environment intended to feel energizing rather than routine. "From day one, Sandbox VR stood out as the clear leader in immersive, social entertainment with its world-class technology, intuitive design, and cutting-edge experiences that are accessible to everyone," says Perkinson, in a press release. "Phoenix deserves next-level entertainment, and Sandbox VR delivers that better than anyone in the industry. Our goal is to create venues that feel welcoming and local, while delivering the same world-class experiences Sandbox VR is known for globally. This is only the beginning for Sandbox VR in Phoenix, and the runway is massive." Globally, Sandbox VR operates more than 70 venues through a combination of franchise and corporate-owned locations, attracting nearly 150,000 guests (including celebrity fans like Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry, and Kevin Durant) each month. 1733 N. Greenfield Rd., Ste. 102 Mesa AZ 85205

Sandbox VR bringing Futuristic VR experience to Alpharetta. The franchise will join Alpharetta City Center. Published Date: March 10, 2026, 4:29 PM EDT Futuristic virtual reality (VR) experience Sandbox VR has inked a lease at Alpharetta City Center, according to a release. This location will be the third in the Metro Atlanta area, joining spots at The Battery and Interlock. "The goal is simple: to give people something that people cannot get at home," a representative with the forthcoming location told What Now Atlanta. The VR experience venue offers games and movie scenarios for groups of up to six people. The concept uses motion capture cameras, 3D precision body trackers, custom hardware and haptic suits to create an immersive experience. Game selections include Squid Game Virtuals, Rebel Moon: The Descent and Stranger Things Catalyst. Sandbox VR offers options for corporate team-building, families and parties. The Alpharetta location will offer enhanced design elements to improve static aspects of guest experiences, including the arrival and waiting areas. "This is giving customers a different experience of being in that movie-like environment," the representative said. "We don't have this kind of experience in the market." The franchisee for the forthcoming location has plans for two more locations in the market. The team is targeting early June for the Alpharetta location's opening. "Sandbox VR is an exciting addition to our tenant lineup at Alpharetta City Center," Lisa Carter, property manager at ACC, said in the release. "In addition to our already robust shopping and dining offerings, this concept gives visitors more reason to spend time in downtown Alpharetta. We're excited to see the energy Sandbox VR brings to the community and look forward to celebrating its grand opening soon." Love our content? Add WhatNow as a preferred source on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Be the first to know. From new restaurant openings to exciting retail launches and real estate insights, be the first to know what's happening in Atlanta Senior Regional Reporter Emily McGinn is a passionate writer from the Los Angeles area. She has experience reporting on local news and the restaurant industry, and in multimedia writing for podcasts and videos. In her free time, she enjoys exploring restaurants and finding new coffee shops to try. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Virtual reality venue sets sights on Town Center. Published on March 6, 2026 at 2:34 pm Sandbox VR, an "immersive virtual reality experience," intends to open in St. Johns Town Center between Nordstrom and Dillard's. The city is reviewing a permit application for Sandbox VR to renovate 4,517 square feet at 10275 Buckhead Branch Drive, No. 119, at an estimated cost of $450,000. Jacksonville Today thanks our sponsors. Become one. Sandbox locations include virtual reality rooms and space for birthday parties, corporate events, team building and social gatherings. Read the rest of this story at the Jacksonville Daily Record, a Jacksonville Today news partner.