Sandbox VR brings immersive gaming to Mesa in first Arizona opening

PHOENIX — Virtual reality entertainment company Sandbox VR recently opened its first Arizona venue in Mesa, with additional state locations to follow over the next year.

Franchisees Andrew Perkinson and Tylor Hardy, childhood friends and former real estate executives, will lead the expansion.

The new VR center’s first location is at the corner of McKellips and Greenfield roads.

The Mesa opening arrives amid a global growth surge for the San Francisco-based company. Sandbox VR has surpassed 5 million players and 80 locations worldwide, with nearly 150 franchise units in development.

The company reported $200 million in accumulated sales as of April 2025, up from $75 million in 2024. More than half of its new openings over the past year have been in Europe, where it now operates 19 venues across six countries.

The company’s technology uses full-body motion capture and haptic feedback to immerse groups in interactive experiences, including licensed content from Netflix properties such as “Stranger Things” and “Squid Game.”

“Phoenix deserves next-level entertainment, and Sandbox VR delivers that better than anyone in the industry,” Perkinson said in a statement.

The company has raised more than $138 million from investors including Andreessen Horowitz, with celebrity backers such as Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry, Kevin Durant and Will Smith.

Booking is now open for groups of two to six, with private sessions available.

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