XR Central Revolutionizes Immersive Learning with Web-Based Metaverse Solutions
The "Metaverse" is often portrayed as a distant future or an expensive playground for those with high-end VR headsets. But for Shrey Mishra, Co-founder of XR Central, the immersive future is already here—and it lives right inside your web browser. By pioneering a device-agnostic approach to Augmented, Virtual, and Mixed Reality (XR), XR Central is transforming how industries from aviation to pharmaceuticals train their employees and engage their customers.
Shrey Mishra’s journey began with a passion for creative engineering and community building. From interning at HackerRank in its early days to building Gaming Central, one of India's largest gaming communities, Shrey has always been at the intersection of technology and interactivity. Alongside his co-founder Anshul Agarwal, he is now leading XR Central to solve complex business problems through immersive simulations and gamification.
The Gamification Win
In a project for a major pharmaceutical company (Ranbaxy/Sun Pharma), XR Central created a quizzing application for medical representatives. The result? A staggering 80% daily engagement rate. This proved that when learning is made interactive and competitive, even traditional corporate training can achieve massive adoption.
The Evolution: From Community to Tech Studio
The story of XR Central is rooted in the success of Gaming Central. Starting as a Facebook community in 2014, Gaming Central quickly hit 100,000 likes and evolved into a specialized agency helping brands like Nvidia, PlayStation, and HP Omen reach the gaming community. However, Shrey and Anshul wanted to create their own technology rather than just marketing other people's products.
"We realized that our bend of mind was more towards creating something we could call our own," Shrey recalls. "That's where the shift towards XR and B2B started. We wanted to create our own tech stack and own the assets we were building."
The Strategy: Browser-Based, Device-Agnostic XR
One of the biggest hurdles to VR adoption has been the "hardware sandwich"—the need for expensive PCs and wired headsets. XR Central solved this by porting their VR applications to the web using engines like Babylon.js and Three.js.
"The fun in gaming comes from the multiplayer aspect and the lesser your dependency on the device, the better," Shrey explains. "All our applications can be run on a browser. They are accessible on smartphones, desktops, and if you have a VR headset, you can open the same link and it runs perfectly."
Solving the Simulation Challenge
- Identify High-Stress Scenarios: Focus on situations that are too dangerous or expensive to role-play (e.g., plane hijackings, chemical leaks).
- Scripting the Decision Tree: Create complex "if-then" scenarios that measure user response times and haptics.
- Develop for the Browser: Use Unity or WebGL engines to ensure the simulation is accessible to thousands of employees instantly.
- Connect to Rewards: Link performance in the simulation to corporate leaderboards and incentive systems.
Implementation: Aviation and Pharma Success
XR Central’s work with SpiceJet is a textbook case of immersive learning. While pilots have long used simulators, cabin crew training was traditionally more basic. XR Central built virtual spaces for SpiceJet where crew members can practice emergency procedures, first aid, and even customer service scenarios in a 100% immersive, risk-free environment.
"Simulating roleplay for stressful scenarios like a hijacking is tough," Shrey notes. "With VR, you are totally immersed. We measure how quickly you make decisions. The better you take those decisions in the virtual world, the better you are at salvaging the situation when it actually happens."
The Vision: Democratizing the Metaverse
Today, the company is pivoting toward its own product: MetaQube, a no-code platform for virtual spaces. Whether it’s a corporate meetup, a museum gallery, or a retail experience center, XR Central wants to make it as easy to create a virtual space as it is to build a shop on Shopify.
"XR has been slow because it lacked a platform approach," Shrey observes. "We feel we are at the inflection point now. Hardware prices are dropping—from $4,000 systems to $300 standalone headsets like the Oculus Quest. Once the hardware becomes mainstream, the demand for high-quality virtual content will explode."
XR Central Milestones
- 100k+ Gaming Community: The foundation that built their deep understanding of engagement.
- 7+ Years of Ops: A resilient journey from community building to specialized tech.
- 80% Engagement: Achieved through gamified B2B learning solutions.
- Funding Success: Secured an initial seed round from Net Profits, moving toward formal institutional rounds.
Lessons for Entrepreneurs
Shrey’s seven-year journey offers profound insights for founders building in niche tech spaces:
1. Build for Scale
If the problem you are solving is too small, the venture won't sustain. "Building for scale is extremely important. We are lucky to be in a region like India where the numbers are on our side," Shrey says.
2. Revenue is the Real North Star
In the age of venture capital hype, Shrey warns against ignoring profitability. "You need to be critical about running profitably. It needs to generate revenue. Many founders forget that when they get into the venture fund mindset."
3. The Psychological Role of a Co-founder
Beyond skillsets, a co-founder is a relationship partner. "It's psychological. You need someone to share the challenges and fresh perspectives with. It shoulders the responsibility of the vision."
4. Face Uncertainty Head-On
Entrepreneurship is about readiness for change. "You need to be ready for uncertainty at all times. If you're willing to face it head-on, you'll figure out the solution eventually."
XR Central is proving that the Metaverse isn't just a marketing buzzword—it's a functional tool for the modern enterprise. By keeping the technology accessible and focusing on real-world learning outcomes, Shrey Mishra and his team are building the infrastructure for an immersive tomorrow.
Founder's Lesson: The reset button
Shrey advocates for "starting from zero every day." By letting go of yesterday's baggage and ego, a founder can approach each new day's challenges with a clear mind and fresh energy.
About the Guest
Shrey Mishra is the Co-founder and Director of XR Central. With over 12 years of experience in interactive technology, gaming, and digital marketing, he is a leading voice in India’s XR and Metaverse ecosystem. An engineer by training, Shrey previously founded Gaming Central, creating one of the country's most influential gaming communities. His focus at XR Central is on product development, operations, and democratizing immersive technologies for the global enterprise market.
XR Central is an interactive tech studio based in Gurugram, India. Specializing in AR, VR, and Metaverse creation, the company helps brands solve complex training, marketing, and engagement problems through its browser-based XR platform, MetaQube.