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A New 'Stranger Things' VR Game Is Coming. I'm More Than Ready to Head to the Upside Down

A New 'Stranger Things' VR Game Is Coming. I'm More Than Ready to Head to the Upside Down

CNET10-06-2025
Get ready, because Stranger Things is about to go virtual. Fans will have a lot more to be excited about when the upcoming fifth and final season of the Netflix series drops. Thanks to a partnership with Sandbox VR -- the company behind the virtual reality experiences inspired by Squid Game and Rebel Moon -- viewers will soon be able to step into the wild world the Duffer Brothers created.
Welcome to Stranger Things: Catalyst, the third collaboration between the streamer and Sandbox VR. The immersive gaming experience will allow players to battle all the supernatural baddies roaming around the town of Hawkins, Indiana.
"Players become part of the story as they explore iconic locations from the series, wield unique abilities, and confront terrifying creatures from the Upside Down," the official press release states.
Stranger Things: Catalyst is the upcoming virtual reality experience that will immerse players in the supernatural world of the Upside Down.
Sandbox VR/Netflix
How will this gaming experience level up your highly anticipated return to Stranger Things? Sandbox VR's AAA gaming studio uses "bleeding-edge virtual technology" (their words, not mine), which includes its patented motion-tracking tech that "captures the movements of a player's entire body."
Players will use their bodies as the game's controllers -- meaning, all you'll need to do is step into the game's virtual environment, and the action will unfold around you.
"Stranger Things, with its rich universe of supernatural phenomena and compelling characters, provides the perfect foundation for a truly groundbreaking VR experience," said Sandbox VR Founder and CEO, Steve Zhao. "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."
Stranger Things: Catalyst will premiere in late 2025. Season 5 of the series will return in three chunks, premiering on Nov. 26, Dec. 25 and New Year's Eve.
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