SaaS

{Startup watch: XR Central} Using AR, VR, voice, & gamification to offer Metaverse-as-a-Service

This startup is using Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), voice, and gamification to offer Metaverse-as-a-Service (MaaS).

MaaS can be defined as an enterprise solution that lets businesses grow in a 3D virtual space to enable cooperation, business processes, investments, cryptocurrency, and other related use cases.

With the advent of blockchain and all things decentralised, metaverse technology has become the most exciting entrant that is driving users to trade with crypto and NFTs. While not everyone knows how to build these virtual worlds, big brands like Nike, Shopify, Tinder, and Gucci are partnering up to own a little space in it, where they can sell their wares.

XR Central (XRC), an interactive tech studio, is focused on solving real business problems with metaverse technology that includes Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), voice, and gamification through their inhouse developed product MetaQube, a one step solution provider for all metaverse needs.

The Tech Panda spoke to Anshul Agarwal, Founder and Director of XR Central, about their dream of rivalling big metaverse brands.

Anshul Agarwal

MetaQube will be an Indian rival to industry giants like Decentraland and SandBox

“MetaQube will be an Indian rival to industry giants like Decentraland and SandBox, and we’re working on a slate of exciting features to bring it to life and make it truly a part of our users’ daily lives,” he says.

What They Do

MetaQube comes with a well defined collaboration suite, a hyper-realistic avatar engine, 3D worlds, immersive interactions, gamifications and social engagements.

“Users can choose basic templates which they can further customise using our library of 3D objects,” says Agarwal.

All the experiences built on MetaQube are accessible across devices and run on a bandwidth of 4G. As opposed to no-code, MetaQube also has a low- code side for the online community to expand upon their metaverse experiences as they like.

All XR resources are accessible via a web-based interface, without the requirement for a VR headset or application. The platform has addressed the problem of device interoperability. Services they provide include gamification of businesses and MaaS.

Origin & Inspiration

XR Central was founded by Agarwal and Shrey Mishra. The organisation’s vision is to democratise the way XR technology has been used to solve real world problems.

It all started when the Co-founders were working in the gaming industry in 2014 with their brand Gaming Central, an Indian gaming community with close to 11 million followers.

We have recognised that most of our work will eventually take place in a gamified, immersive environment called the metaverse. In view of that, we have designed MetaQube, a product which will make it easier than ever for the casual person as well as enterprise users and gamers to create their own metaverse

“We wanted to dabble with game development a bit more, and in the year 2015, we started developing a few 3D-based games which led to a pivot to XR. We began creating enterprise-grade solutions using XR technology and started conceptualizing our metaverse product, MetaQube in December 2020,” Agarwal recalls.

“We have recognised that most of our work will eventually take place in a gamified, immersive environment called the metaverse. In view of that, we have designed MetaQube, a product which will make it easier than ever for the casual person as well as enterprise users and gamers to create their own metaverse,” he adds.

Growth Story

XR Central was the metaverse partners for Taiwanese PC giant GIGABYTE and IPL team Lucknow Supergiants. It is also the metaverse partner for this year’s edition of India’s largest and best-known art fair, the India Art Fair.

“We already work with top IT, aviation and event companies in India. For example, our GIGABYTE and LSG experience attracted more than 20,000 visitors, of which 25% were from outside India,” Agarwal says with pride.

We have very few competitors in India, and our biggest competitors are international products like Decentraland and SandBox. Decentraland and SandBox are great, but they don’t understand the Indian and Asian ecosystem like we do and will not have the necessary cultural and procedural knowledge to grow in these areas

The team counts itself as a unique service in the still expanding metaverse world.

“We have very few competitors in India, and our biggest competitors are international products like Decentraland and SandBox. Decentraland and SandBox are great, but they don’t understand the Indian and Asian ecosystem like we do and will not have the necessary cultural and procedural knowledge to grow in these areas. Our environments are more realistic and detailed than theirs, as well,” he adds.

Future Plans

In the future, XR Central not only wants to diversify into different industries but also wants to expand internationally.

“We are currently highlighting the collaborative enterprise metaverses (which includes experience centres), arts and culture sector and the edtech sector, and beyond that we aim to develop a portfolio of solutions to fit the needs of a very diverse set of industries,” Agarwal reveals.

“In the future we are aiming to expand into the Middle East and EMEA markets,” he adds.

As the metaverse slowly makes it way through various industries, its adaption will rise. That’s when companies like XR Central will become the most sought after.

Navanwita Bora Sachdev

Navanwita is the editor of The Tech Panda who also frequently publishes stories in news outlets such as The Indian Express, Entrepreneur India, and The Business Standard