Get ready to enter the Upside Down — this time, for real. Sandbox VR has officially announced Stranger Things: Catalyst, the company’s third immersive VR experience in partnership with Netflix. This thrilling new adventure will let players step into the eerie world of Hawkins like never before, bringing to life one of the most iconic sci-fi series of the past decade.
For those new to Sandbox VR, the company specializes in high-end, location-based virtual reality experiences. Operating across 57 venues worldwide, they offer deeply immersive games where players suit up, grab gear, and physically walk through virtual worlds. Over the years, Sandbox VR has collaborated with major entertainment franchises, and now they’re diving deeper into the Stranger Things universe.
In Stranger Things: Catalyst, players will team up in groups and face off against terrifying creatures from the Upside Down. With the use of motion capture technology and full-body tracking, the game promises an intense, cinematic journey through familiar environments from the show — think Hawkins Lab, forest paths, and shadowy alternate dimensions.
This marks Sandbox VR’s third collaboration with Netflix, following the success of Squid Game Virtuals and Rebel Moon: The Descent. Speaking about the project, Sandbox VR founder and CEO Steve Zhao shared, “The success of our previous Netflix collaborations has shown us the incredible potential of bringing beloved content into virtual reality. Our technology will allow fans to physically step into the story they’ve watched unfold over the past seasons, creating thrilling memories with friends as they face the horrors of the Upside Down together.”
Fans of Stranger Things might recall that this isn’t the franchise’s first leap into virtual reality. Another VR title launched last year by Tender Claws explored the universe in a single-player format. However, Stranger Things: Catalyst aims to take things further by focusing on multiplayer, real-time immersion at physical Sandbox VR locations.
With the combination of Netflix’s storytelling power and Sandbox VR’s advanced technology, Stranger Things: Catalyst is shaping up to be a must-play experience for both hardcore fans and newcomers. Whether you’re hunting Demogorgons or exploring dark secrets hidden in Hawkins, the game promises an unforgettable adventure.
Stranger Things: Catalyst will be available exclusively at Sandbox VR locations in late 2025. If you’ve ever wanted to live out the Stranger Things experience with friends — this is your chance.
