In a major boost to India’s gaming and virtual production ecosystem, Mihira Visual Labs, led by producer Shobu Yarlagadda, has partnered with Annapurna Studios and Animatrik Film Design. Together, they have launched India’s largest and most advanced motion capture (MoCap) lab.
Situated in Hyderabad, the lab is already powering high-end film productions, including key sequences for SS Rajamouli’s upcoming film Varanasi. Looking ahead, the facility is positioned to transform India’s game development scene by providing domestic creators with the same AAA-grade technology used in global hits like Borderlands 4.
A Look at the A&M MoCap Lab Features
The A&M MoCap Lab is a joint venture between producer Shobu Yarlagadda’s Mihira Visual Labs and Akkineni Nagarjuna’s Annapurna Studios, in collaboration with Animatrik Film Design as the technical partner. Animatrik is globally recognized for its work on top-tier gaming projects, including Gears of War 5, Borderlands 4, and Batman: Arkham Origins.
The state-of-the-art facility features a 60-by-40-by-30-foot capture volume equipped with flagship Vicon Valkyrie VK26 cameras, offering sub-millimeter optical tracking precision and real-time data streaming via Vicon Live.
Furthermore, the setup integrates Unreal Engine for live virtual production previsualization and includes stereo head-mounted camera units for high-resolution facial performance capture. Notably, the facility features an in-house prop workshop, stunt-rigging support, and an expert tech team, handling the entire pipeline from performance capture to data cleanup, retargeting, and real-time rendering.
In addition, the MoCap lab is expandable, allowing it to be disassembled and reassembled on location as productions require.
A Big Leap for Indian Game Development
Motion capture technology allows developers to record real human performances, from body movements to facial expressions, and translate them into realistic in-game character animations. Until now, many Indian studios had to outsource advanced MoCap work to international facilities, increasing both cost and production timelines.
With a state-of-the-art MoCap lab now available domestically, Indian developers can:
- Create AAA-quality character animations
- Capture realistic combat, sports, and cinematic sequences
- Develop narrative-driven games with nuanced performances
- Reduce dependency on overseas studios
This is particularly significant as Indian studios begin aiming for global-quality titles rather than just mobile-first casual games.
Why This Matters for Gaming in 2026 and Beyond
India’s gaming industry is moving beyond hyper-casual titles into:
- Story-driven action games
- Esports-focused competitive titles
- Cinematic projects
- Console and PC development
High-fidelity motion capture is essential for these segments. Realistic movement enhances immersion, especially in genres like action-adventure, RPGs, sports simulations, and horror.
With esports and game development both expanding rapidly in India, something we’ve seen accelerating into 2026, infrastructure like this signals that the ecosystem is maturing technically, not just commercially.
Source – Variety