Dublin's new virtual reality centre will feature Ireland's first robotic bartender

Eva Osborne

A new virtual reality experience centre opening in Dublin this week will feature Ireland's first robotic bartender.

Sandbox VR will open their new €4 million facility on Nassau Street on Thursday, with nine experiences to choose from.

Groups of up to six players can participate in an interactive virtual reality game for 30 minutes, with one of the experiences based on the hit TV show Squid Game.

The site will employ 37 people and include Toni - Ireland's first robotic bartender - which the company says can serve up to 80 drinks an hour.

"When you enter our worlds, you become the action. Thanks to Hollywood motion capture cameras, 3D precision body trackers, custom hardware, and haptic suits, you get a feeling of transformation you can't get anywhere else. You might forget you left reality," Sandbox VR said.

"Our original worlds are meant to be experienced together with others. Whether it's a journey to space or surviving a zombie ambush, there's something about a thrilling Sandbox experience that transforms your relationships.

"Meet Toni! Toni is a cutting edge robotic technology that prepares, shakes, stirs and serves alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Toni will be on hand to provide refreshments before and after your virtual reality experience.

"We also have a human-powered bar, serving draft Guinness, a wide range of beer, wine and soft drinks."