After a challenging year for location-based virtual reality startups due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sandbox VR is back with a plan to expand its operations further across the globe. The San Francisco and Hong Kong-headquartered company offers an immersive social experience through a combination of full-body motion capture and VR technologies that allow players to step into another world and go anywhere with their friends. The startup today announced that it has raised $37 million in a Series B led by Andreessen Horowitz through its Growth Fund, which serves new companies at an inflection point, along with returning investors Alibaba and Craft.
The funding will be used to scale the internal studio sandbox vr toronto to increase game content cadence and develop a software development kit that will open up its platform for third-party developers. Additionally, the money will help the company to develop wireless technology to remove the heavy hardware backpack that weighs down each player as they play in VR.
Sandbox is one of the leading immersive gaming brands in the world, with 25 locations currently open in North America, Europe and Asia. Its patented, socially immersive gaming experience takes group Virtual Reality gameplay to the next level by combining real-time motion capture, latest generation VR headset and high-quality haptics into a virtual space where up to six friends can transport into their own action movie. The games are designed to be shared experiences that require teamwork, cooperation and communication — taking group VR gaming and competitive socializing to a whole new level.
Guests can experience heart-pounding, exhilarating and unforgettably immersive gameplay when they fend off zombie hordes in Deadwood Valley, enter a world of swashbuckling adventure or soar into the clouds in a space elevator. They can also compete against their friends in thrilling duels in a futuristic combat arena.
The Park Meadows location will feature five holodecks that each host up to six people for a truly shared experience. Special pre-opening savings are available for guests who book their experience by September 8th. The venue will also offer private event and party rooms for group bookings.