How Kewal Gokuldas Brought XR Development to Northeastern in Silicon Valley

Kewal Gokuldas (‘24) was sixteen when he built his first game for a high school programming class. The game, inspired by Dragon Ball Z, was an instant hit with his classmates. “I remember everyone coming together to test it out,” he said. “Watching them engage with it and have fun really motivated me.” 

His passion for sharing technology led him to launch NuXR, the extended reality (XR) club at Northeastern University in Silicon Valley, shortly after starting his Master’s in Computer Science in fall 2022. An experienced XR developer, he was eager to help others at Northeastern explore the potential of immersive technologies.

XR technologies blend the digital and physical worlds: they encompass virtual reality (VR), which places users in a fully digital environment; augmented reality (AR), which adds digital elements to the real world; and mixed reality (MR), which allows users to interact with digital objects within physical spaces. Kewal’s plan was to introduce his peers to AR and VR and “slowly get them into development.”  

As a first step, he organized a VR gaming tournament at the Student Involvement Fair, using XR gear available on campus. Students wore headsets and played the popular VR rhythm game Beat Saber. “It was fun to see people experience VR for the first time and be wowed by it,” he said.

Later, he held two XR development workshops where he and participants created an AR “3D resume experience” and a VR zombie-slaying game. 

Photos from an event hosted by NuXR

Still, it took patience during the time when NuXR was slow to gain traction—partly because Kewal was running the club alone while juggling coursework and an internship, and because XR development can be intimidating, even for graduate students in tech programs. But over time he was able to build momentum as the group drew in other people who were excited about the challenge and possibility of the medium.

Immersive experience design is, after all, technically complex. It requires skills beyond coding—like 3D modeling, animation, and interactive design—all of which take time to master. “You need to be passionate,” he said.

He speaks from experience, having taught himself XR development in college by building mobile VR games before gaining experience as an AR/VR developer at a VR headset provider, a medical simulations company, and a multinational IT consulting firm, where he eventually became the XR team lead.

Still, he said, mastering the basics of XR development is worth the effort—not just as a competitive advantage, but as an essential skill for the future, as companies across industries invest in XR, especially for training. “Think of a doctor learning a new procedure. It’s easier and safer for them to train in VR than in real life,” Kewal explained.

Or, he added, “Imagine sitting at home and touring Japan—just by putting on a headset.”

Soon, he predicts, XR hardware—like headsets—will be as ubiquitous as smartphones. The biggest barrier to widespread adoption today, he said, is the high cost of devices. But that’s likely to change. “I’m pretty sure that, in ten years, XR devices will be much more affordable.”

He’s not waiting—he plans to get his own VR headset soon. But with his new full-time role as a software developer at PayPal (which he stepped into just two days after graduating in December, 2024), XR development has taken a back seat. “I’m super busy with work,” he said. “There’s so much to learn and contribute here.”

Luckily, before graduating, he found the right teammates to carry NuXR—and the passion for XR development—forward. With Information Systems student Changxu (Gloria) Wei as president, the club has stayed active and now includes 60 members.

This February, the group hosted a Neural Radiance Field (NeRF) workshop and a second Beat Saber tournament. According to Gloria, plans for next semester include two more workshops and three gaming events.

“NuXR is in great hands now,” Kewal said. 

Getting involved in a student interest group (SIG) is a great way to build connections with students outside of your specific program and cohort. Our currently active SIGs cover everything from professional skills to fine arts. And if you don’t find what you’re looking for, you can follow Kewal’s lead and start your own. Read more about Silicon Valley campus SIGs to get connected.