Sandbox VR to Open First New York City Location in Times Square, Marking 100th Location Milestone

Opening October 23, the 10,324-square-foot Manhattan venue will feature six private VR rooms, two party rooms, and a bar

NEW YORK, Oct. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Sandbox VR, the world's premier destination for location-based virtual reality experiences, will open its first New York City location on October 23 at 777 7th Avenue in Times Square. The 10,324-square-foot Manhattan venue marks the company's 100th location milestone and places Sandbox VR within walking distance of Broadway's Theatre District, Rockefeller Center, and Radio City Music Hall. Guests who book by October 22 can save 20% on all tickets at sandboxvr.com/new-york/times-square.

The Times Square venue will include six private VR rooms where groups of up to six guests suit up with headsets, haptic vests, and motion sensors for full-body immersion. Players can see and physically interact with one another inside the virtual world, creating a shared experience built for friends, families, and co-workers. The venue will also include two party rooms and a bar, expanding the options for birthdays, celebrations, and corporate events. After each experience, guests receive personalized highlight videos to relive and share their adventures.

"Reaching our 100th location as we prepare to open in Times Square shows how far Sandbox VR has come and where we want to go next," said Steve Zhao, founder and CEO of Sandbox VR. "Introducing our experience to New York City for the first time is a major moment for us, and we're fortunate to have Jason, Carolyne, and their team help make this opening possible."

"Times Square is where the world comes together, so it is the perfect home for the most social VR experience in the world. We welcome families, friends, and teams who want to step out of everyday life and into an adventure together. October 23 can't come soon enough. And this is just the beginning; we plan to open more locations across New York City," said Carolyne Chan, co-owner of JLG Ventures.

Guests can choose from 12 exclusive full-body VR experiences, led by the newly released Deadwood Origins, the fourth installment in Sandbox VR's fan-favorite Deadwood zombie series. The first three Deadwood titles have sold more than 2.66 million tickets and generated more than $140 million in sales. The lineup also includes Stranger Things: Catalyst and Squid Game Virtuals, developed in collaboration with Netflix; the family-friendly Age of Dinosaurs, created in collaboration with the Natural History Museum, London; and Sandbox VR originals such as Seekers of the Shard: Dragonfire. No previous gaming or virtual reality experience is required.

The Times Square venue marks Sandbox VR's 100th location milestone as the company continues its global expansion. The company welcomes more than 150,000 guests each month and has sold more than 6 million tickets worldwide. Its proprietary full-body platform combines motion tracking, haptic feedback, and content developed by an in-house studio to turn a group outing into a shared adventure.

Advance tickets plus location details are available at sandboxvr.com/new-york/times-square.

ABOUT SANDBOX VR
Sandbox VR is the world's premier destination for location-based virtual reality experiences. Operating across 100 venues around the globe through a robust franchise and corporate-owned model, Sandbox VR attracts over 150,000 guests each month. Sandbox VR provides guests the opportunity to step out of everyday reality into unforgettable adventures through exhilarating, group-play immersive experiences. Using a proprietary full-body VR platform, the company develops original and licensed content, including exclusive experiences like Stranger Things: Catalyst and Squid Game Virtuals in collaboration with Netflix, and the Sandbox VR original Deadwood series. With over 6 million tickets sold worldwide, Sandbox VR has become the leader in immersive entertainment, combining premium technology with emotionally engaging storytelling. Recognized as one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies and a two-time honoree on the Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing private companies, Sandbox VR is headquartered in San Francisco with offices in Hong Kong and Vancouver. The company has raised over $70 million from investors, including Andreessen Horowitz, Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund, Gobi Partners and Craft, with individual backers including Justin Timberlake, Kevin Durant and Will Smith.

ABOUT JLG VENTURES: JLG Ventures invests in, operates, and partners with high-potential hospitality and entertainment brands. Its portfolio includes Sandbox VR's Times Square flagship, Raku, Double Chicken Please, Patisserie Fouet, and Unnecessary, a growing collection of category-defining concepts shaping New York's hospitality and entertainment landscape. Learn more at jlg.ventures.

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SOURCE Sandbox VR