The Sandbox VR franchise is a location-based VR concept built around private "Holodeck" rooms, with a $50,000 franchise fee, a 5% royalty and an estimated initial investment that public FDD summaries put at roughly $1.4–2.9 million. Metaforce VR Arena is a free-roam team arena sold by subscription, with no franchise fee and no royalty. This page sets the two side by side using public sources only; all figures were checked in October 2026.
We are Metaforce, so this Sandbox VR franchise review is not written by a neutral party. That is why every number about Sandbox VR below links to a public source, and where a figure is not public, we say so. Always confirm current terms in Sandbox VR's latest Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) before making a decision.
What is the Sandbox VR franchise?
Sandbox VR was founded in 2016 in Hong Kong and is now headquartered in San Francisco [5]. Guests play in groups of two to six in private rooms the company calls Holodecks, using full-body motion capture; an adventure takes about 30 minutes [4][5]. Its experience library includes titles based on Netflix and Paramount IP [1][3].
The company's main website lists roughly 70 locations in the US, Canada, Europe and Asia (our count of the location list in October 2026) [3]. A third-party FDD summary reports 44 units at the time of that filing, of which 9 were franchised and 35 company-owned [6]. According to Wikipedia, in January 2026 the company announced plans for about 200 franchise locations by the end of 2027 [5].
How much does a Sandbox VR franchise cost?
Sandbox VR's franchise website does not publish fees or investment figures in its text; it refers candidates to the FDD [1]. Public summaries of the FDD report:
| Item | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Initial franchise fee | $50,000 | [6][7] |
| Royalty | 5% of gross sales, or a minimum of $1,000 per Holodeck per month, whichever is greater | [6] |
| Estimated initial investment | $1.4 million to $2.9 million | [2][6] |
| Lower range quoted with tenant allowances | about $250,700 to $1.88 million | [7][8] |
| Start-up equipment package | about $475,000 to $500,000 | [8] |
| Marketing / brand fund fee | Not publicly disclosed in the sources we checked | — |
| Technology fee | Not publicly disclosed in the sources we checked | — |
| Financing from the franchisor | Reported as not available | [6] |
Different summaries show different investment ranges. The difference appears to come from whether landlord tenant allowances are subtracted and from which FDD year is used, so treat the table as an orientation, not a quote.
What are the Sandbox VR franchise requirements?
From Sandbox VR's official franchise page [1]:
- Liquid assets: at least $1 million.
- Net worth: at least $2 million.
- Experience: industry experience is helpful but not required; candidates should have experience scaling a major business.
- Space: about 4,000–5,500 sq ft (372–511 m²) for a 4-Holodeck store.
- Ceiling height: ideally 11 ft (3.35 m) clear; minimum 9 ft (2.75 m) clear.
- Location types: mixed-use entertainment centers, lifestyle centers, urban districts and regional malls with evening traffic; interior sites need an after-hours entrance and dedicated HVAC.
- Process: inquiry form, video call, FDD review, Discovery Day, meeting with the executive team, signing, launch marketing, training, then fit-out and opening.
What about Sandbox VR franchise profit?
A third-party FDD summary reports that the FDD contains no Item 19 financial performance representation [6], so Sandbox VR's average unit revenue and profit are not publicly disclosed in the sources we checked. The franchise website speaks of strong ROI potential but gives no figures [1]. If profit matters to your decision, ask the franchisor directly and speak with existing franchisees listed in the FDD.
Sandbox VR franchise vs Metaforce VR Arena: side by side
| Sandbox VR | Metaforce VR Arena | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Private Holodeck rooms, full-body motion capture [1][5] | Free-roam team arena, one open play area |
| Players per session | 2–6 per group [4] | 4–20 per game; 8 to 12 or more on one arena at once, depending on venue size |
| Session length | About 30 minutes [4] | Hourly play, whole-arena rental, parties |
| Content | Own experiences, incl. Netflix and Paramount IP [1][3] | 5 in-house games (TeamForce, StarForce, Elevators, Portals, Mini Games), Zombies coming soon |
| Content updates | Not publicly disclosed | New maps or games every 6 months, included |
| Franchise fee | $50,000 [6][7] | None |
| Ongoing payments | 5% royalty, min. $1,000 per Holodeck per month [6] | Subscription: $4,990 / 6 months, $7,990 / 12 months, $14,990 / 24 months, then $799 per month, taxes included. No revenue share |
| Marketing fee | Not publicly disclosed | None |
| Total investment | About $1.4–2.9 million per FDD summaries [2][6] | From RUB 2.5 million for arenas in Russia |
| Equipment | Start-up equipment package from the franchisor, about $475,000–500,000 [8] | Buy from any supplier |
| Space | About 4,000–5,500 sq ft (372–511 m²) for 4 Holodecks [1] | 100–700 m² total; optimal 150–250 m² with a 100–150 m² play area |
| Ceiling | Min. 9 ft (2.75 m), ideally 11 ft (3.35 m) [1] | From 2.5 m |
| Candidate requirements | $1M liquid, $2M net worth [1] | No published minimum; venue must meet the space requirements |
| Published revenue figures | Not publicly disclosed [6] | RUB 500,000–1,500,000 per month for arenas in Russia, depending on city, venue and occupancy; payback from about one year |
| Network | About 70 locations listed on its site [3] | About 30 arenas in 4 countries |
| Markets | US, Canada, Europe, Asia [1] | Russia, Kazakhstan, Israel, Slovakia; cities from 20,000 residents |
Metaforce figures come from our own franchise terms. Sandbox VR figures come from the sources listed below.
Which model fits which investor?
The two concepts answer different briefs, and the right one depends on your budget, market and venue:
- Sandbox VR is a branded concept with a large US presence, licensed entertainment IP and published minimum liquidity and net worth requirements for candidates. Its royalty model means the franchisor's income grows with your gross sales.
- Metaforce VR Arena is a free-roam arena for one larger group per session, designed for smaller venues and smaller cities. There is no franchise fee or royalty: you pay a fixed subscription for games and support, and you pay for the venue, renovation and equipment separately. When the subscription ends, access to the games stops.
Partners with Metaforce receive games adapted to their exact venue layout, launch support and staff training and a knowledge base, and a manager stays on hand. With the franchise package, partners also get a website, the network CRM and a marketing kit.
Read more about the economics on franchise cost and no-royalty franchise, see how a VR arcade business makes money, or compare other brands in our VR franchise comparison.
Apply now to discuss your city and venue with Metaforce VR Arena.
FAQ
How much does a Sandbox VR franchise cost?
Public FDD summaries report a $50,000 franchise fee and an estimated initial investment of about $1.4–2.9 million; lower ranges are quoted when tenant allowances are included. Confirm the current figures in the latest FDD.
What royalty does Sandbox VR charge?
According to a public FDD summary, 5% of gross sales or a minimum of $1,000 per Holodeck per month, whichever is greater. A marketing fund fee was not publicly disclosed in the sources we checked.
What are the Sandbox VR franchise requirements?
Sandbox VR's franchise page asks for at least $1 million in liquid assets and a $2 million net worth, plus a space of about 4,000–5,500 sq ft for a 4-Holodeck store with at least 9 ft of clear ceiling height.
How profitable is a Sandbox VR franchise?
Average unit revenue and profit are not publicly disclosed in the sources we checked; a third-party FDD summary reports no Item 19 financial performance representation.
How is Metaforce VR Arena different?
Metaforce is a free-roam team arena sold by subscription: no franchise fee, no royalty, no marketing fee. Venues start from 100 m² in total, and arenas in Russia start from an investment of RUB 2.5 million.
Sources
Checked October 2026. Figures about Sandbox VR are taken from the sources below and may change; always rely on the current FDD.
- Sandbox VR, Franchise Opportunities (official): https://franchise.sandboxvr.com/
- Franchise Times, "Museum of Illusions franchisee signs multi-market deal with Sandbox VR": https://www.franchisetimes.com/franchise_news/museum-of-illusions-franchisee-signs-multi-market-deal-with-sandbox-vr/article_b19dbe04-97b5-11ef-bbae-cbd41d84993f.html
- Sandbox VR, official website (experiences and locations list): https://sandboxvr.com/
- Sandbox VR, "VR birthday party" (official article with FAQ on group size and session length): https://sandboxvr.com/articles/vr-birthday-party
- Wikipedia, "Sandbox VR": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandbox_VR
- Franchise Overview, Sandbox VR FDD summary: https://franchiseoverview.com/company/sandboxvr
- Franzy, Sandbox VR franchise profile: https://franzy.com/franchises/sandbox-vr
- Sharpsheets, "Sandbox VR Franchise FDD, Profits & Costs": https://sharpsheets.io/blog/sandbox-vr-franchise-fdd-profits-costs-fees