Sandbox VR Expands to Fresno with New Location-Based VR Experience

Event summary

  • Sandbox VR opened its first location in Fresno, California, at the Fashion Fair shopping mall on March 2, 2026.
  • The location features two private rooms for VR gameplay, accommodating groups of up to six guests with full-body immersion technology.
  • Sandbox VR offers ten exclusive immersive experiences, including collaborations with Netflix (Stranger Things: Catalyst, Squid Game Virtuals) and an upcoming family-oriented experience, Age of Dinosaurs, launching in Spring 2026.
  • The company operates over 80 venues globally, attracting nearly 150,000 guests monthly, and has raised over $138 million in funding.

The big picture

Sandbox VR's expansion into Fresno underscores its strategy of leveraging franchising to penetrate secondary markets, complementing its corporate-owned locations. The company's focus on exclusive content collaborations, such as those with Netflix and the Natural History Museum of London, positions it as a leader in immersive entertainment. With over 80 venues and 150,000 monthly players, Sandbox VR is capitalizing on the growing demand for group-based VR experiences, though its ability to sustain premium pricing in diverse markets remains a key challenge.

What we're watching

Expansion Strategy
How Sandbox VR's franchising model will drive growth in secondary markets like Fresno.
Content Diversification
Whether the upcoming family-oriented content can attract a broader demographic.
Market Penetration
The pace at which Sandbox VR can scale its global footprint while maintaining premium experience standards.