New VR attraction will let you fight zombies in downtown St. Pete

Who needs reality when you can get a taste of the world virtually?

That question may be answered in St. Petersburg later this month when Sandbox VR opens a new location, its 49th, in the city’s Grand Central District.

Sandbox VR is a “socially immersive gaming experience (that) combines full-body motion capture and high-quality haptics to provide unprecedented realism and complete immersion” the company says in new release announcing the St. Pete entertainment center.

It is scheduled to open June 27 at 2828 Central Ave. The company, according to its website, has another center coming to Fort Myers. An opening date was not available.

Sandbox VR will made up of three private rooms, called “holodecks,” each allowing for groups of up to six to play. The players will be fitted with an haptic vest, motion sensors on their wrists and ankles, and VIVE Focus 3 headsets.

The company says the technology “allows players to see and physically interact with one another while feeling like they are in the middle of an action movie, with the heightened emotions that come from not just watching a film, but from actually becoming the stars of the action.”

The St. Pete location will offer eight games, including Squid Game Virtuals based on the hit Netflix series; Deadwood Valley, which involves fighting zombies; and Curse of Davy Jones, which is set on the sea.

Players get a personalized highlight video afterwards.

According to the news release, San Francisco-based Sandbox VR sees more than 100,000 players per month at its locations. Its latest round of funding brought in more than $37 million in investments.