Heirs of Kutch - XRCC Hackathon Winner

The Heirs of Kutch is an immersive Virtual Reality Cultural Storytelling Experience developed in Unreal Engine for the International XRCC Online Hackathon. Set within the vibrant landscapes of the Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, the project reimagines endangered Indian craft traditions through interactive worldbuilding, embodied learning, and cinematic XR design. The experience centers around the rare 400-year-old Rogan painting artform, sustained solely by the Abdul Khatri lineage, while also incorporating Kutchi Ajrakh Block Printing, another heritage craft nurtured by the Khatri artisan community.

Designed and developed under intense production timelines, the project became an exploration of both cultural preservation and advanced XR pipeline experimentation, combining environmental storytelling, hand-based interactions, digital humans, motion capture, and immersive simulation systems into a cohesive VR experience. The project was also awarded the “Most Voted Project by Community” at XRCC, emerging as the highest-voted project globally among 150+ hackathon submissions.
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Key Accomplishments
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Advanced Unreal Engine Development:

Built the entire VR experience in Unreal Engine, exploring real-time XR pipelines involving interaction systems, environmental storytelling, cinematic sequencing, lighting, and immersive world design.
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Digital Human & Motion Capture Pipeline:

Experimented with MetaHuman creation, Live Link workflows, and motion capture integration to develop a digital recreation of artisan Abdul Khatri, enabling a more personal and human-centered storytelling experience within VR.
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Interactive Craft Simulation Design:

Designed tactile VR interactions allowing users to learn and practice Rogan painting and Ajrakh Block Printing through embodied hand-based interactions, translating traditional craft techniques into immersive digital experiences.
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Immersive Spatial & Experience Design:

Recreated the atmosphere of the Rann Utsav through spatially designed Bhunga huts, folk performances, artisan workshops, desert landscapes, ambient soundscapes, and culturally inspired visual detailing to create a grounded and emotionally resonant environment.
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Rapid Iteration & Technical Recovery:

Rebuilt and restructured major systems after unexpected build instability and crashes during the final phase of development, while simultaneously expanding the project scope for the finale submission.
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Community Recognition:

Received the “Most Voted Project by Community” award at XRCC, with the project becoming the highest-voted submission among more than 150 global projects, reflecting strong audience engagement and resonance with the project’s cultural vision.

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‍Challenges & Learnings‍
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One of the primary challenges was balancing ambitious experimentation with strict hackathon timelines. Integrating unfamiliar workflows such as MetaHumans, Live Link, motion capture, and VR interaction systems while maintaining performance and stability in Unreal Engine demanded rapid learning and continuous iteration. Midway through development, unexpected build failures required large portions of the experience to be rebuilt and optimized under pressure.

A major learning from the process was understanding the importance of modular development, pipeline flexibility, and prioritizing experiential storytelling over technical excess. The project reinforced how XR can function not only as a technological medium, but also as a powerful tool for preserving cultural memory, craft practices, and human stories through immersive interaction.

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