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Sandbox VR

Full-body tracked free-roam VR franchise. 6-player stages, haptic vests, motion capture, and post-game highlight videos. Franchise model with content library included.

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Description

Sandbox VR is a location-based VR franchise operating 40+ venues globally. Each location runs multiple compact free-roam stages supporting up to six players per session. Players wear VR headsets, haptic vests, and hand/foot trackers. Motion capture cameras track full-body movement for inverse kinematics. The platform runs on PCVR (backpack PCs at older locations).

The content library includes original titles and licensed IP. Deadwood Valley features branched narrative with multiple endings. Gameplay mechanics include cooperative revival (a downed player must be physically touched on the shoulder by a teammate to respawn). Sessions run approximately 30 minutes.

Post-game, players receive a highlight video compiled from in-game footage and motion capture data. The video includes third-person replay angles and social-shareable clips. This is served immediately after gameplay on a lounge screen before players exit.

Sandbox VR operates as a franchise model. Franchise package includes hardware, software platform, content library access, and operational support. Estimated total investment is approximately $1 million per location. Venues typically install 4–6 stages depending on square footage.

The platform uses optical motion capture cameras, hand and foot trackers, haptic vests, and VR headsets. Older locations still deploy backpack PCs; newer installations may vary. The inverse kinematics system is among the most advanced in commercial free-roam VR.

Sandbox VR is suited for operators evaluating turnkey franchise systems with existing content pipelines and post-game social engagement features built in.

Additional information

Manufacturer

Sandbox VR

Multiplayer

2 to 6

Footprint

400 to 1000 sq ft

Review from Bob Cooney's 2022/2023 VR Arcade Game Buyer's Guide:

Sandbox VR

Sandbox VR might be the fastest-growing VR franchise right now. They list 41 locations on their website as of this writing, with seven of those labeled “coming soon”. Each location has multiple “stages”: compact free-roam spaces for up to six players. The Oakland site I visited had four stages, and the huge London venue has at least six.

They have a wide variety of games. I found their original games boring and competitive (but that didn’t stop 5-star reviews on Google). Their latest, Deadwood Valley, was fantastic. It has a branched story, great level variation, and multiple endings. We failed the primary mission, and I was left with a desire to play again.

The best thing about Sandbox VR is their post-game experience. Players are led to a couch where they watch a video showing their experience back, including goofy poses and dancing. It’s a blast, and customers love it. They also give post-game videos for social sharing.

A Sandbox VR franchise costs around a million dollars. The newest locations I visited were still using backpack PCs, which are totally obsolete. They also use optical cameras with hand and foot trackers. The trackers are used for unique features. When a player dies, another player must touch them on the shoulder to revive them. And at the end, players are encouraged to dance for the post-game video. The inverse kinematics with hand and foot tracking is the best in the industry.

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