Nov 5, 2025

Meta Horizon Start Developer Competition 2025: More Ways to Build. More Ways to Win.

TL;DR

We’re launching a new developer competition challenging Meta Horizon Start Program members to build innovative, immersive experiences for Meta Horizon OS and compete for a share of $1.5 million in prizes across 32 awards.

Dates: November 5 – December 9, 2025

Prize Tracks: Entertainment, Lifestyle, and Gaming

Special Awards: Hand Interactions, Camera Passthrough, Meta Spatial SDK, Immersive Web SDK, React Native, and Android development

Eligibility: Open to all Meta Horizon Start Program members. Terms and conditions apply. Official rules are available on Devpost. Not yet a member? Apply to join before submitting.

Are you ready to bring your boldest VR ideas to life? The Meta Horizon Start Developer Competition 2025 is here, inviting global developers to push the boundaries of what’s possible on Meta Horizon OS. Whether you’ve been sketching out a new concept or dreaming up ways to enhance an existing app, now’s your chance to turn those ideas into reality—and compete for a share of $1.5 million in cash prizes.

From November 5 through December 9, we’re challenging members of the Meta Horizon Start Program to build or significantly update immersive experiences across three main tracks: Entertainment, Lifestyle, and Gaming.

But the competition doesn’t stop at the main tracks. This year, we’re spotlighting innovation with special awards for projects that make creative use of Hand Interactions, Passthrough Camera Access with AI, Meta Spatial SDK, Immersive Web SDK, React Native, and Android development. Whether you’re experimenting with controller-free interactions, blending physical and virtual spaces, or leveraging the latest toolkits, there’s a category for you to shine.

Why You Should Join

Compete for a Share of $1.5 Million in prizes

Submit your new or updated project for a chance to win one of 32 cash prizes, including top prizes of $100,000 each for projects.

Build a brand-new immersive experience or significantly update an existing app (e.g., implement Hand Interactions, add multiplayer support) that aligns with one of the competition tracks:

Entertainment: Reimagine how users consume or watch content, making it more immersive and interactive.

Lifestyle: Enhance peoples’ daily lives, how they get things done, learn new skills, and connect with others around shared interests.

Gaming:

Casual Games: Accessible, single-player games designed for quick, engaging fun.

Social Games: Multiplayer experiences that connect people in real time to play a game together.

Connect with a Global Developer Community

Join a growing community of developers shaping the future of VR. Learn, collaborate, and share insights with your peers and make a name for yourself on the world’s leading VR platform. Visit the Meta Horizon Start Developer Lounge to connect with other Start developers, brainstorm ideas, or find a team to help bring your idea to life. If you’re not already a member of the Start Program, you can apply now and join the competition.

Boost Your Skills

Access curated technical documentation, tutorials, and developer resources designed to help you accelerate your workflow and broaden your skillset.

Build with New Capabilities

Experiment with the latest features and toolkits or explore various build paths to get rewarded for your innovation, design, and technical excellence in special categories, including:

Hands: Design intuitive, controller-free interactions that make VR feel natural. Projects showcasing advanced hand interactions are eligible for the Best Implementation of Hand Interactions award. Get started: Unity | Unreal | Spatial SDK | WebXR.

Passthrough Camera Access with AI: Merge physical and virtual spaces by incorporating real-world visuals and context-aware overlays. Experiences using passthrough creatively may earn the Best Use of Passthrough Camera Access with AI award. Get started: Unity | Unreal | Spatial SDK.

Meta Spatial SDK: Develop immersive spatial experiences built on a native Android framework that seamlessly connects virtual and real-world elements. Exceptional Spatial SDK builds may receive the Best Immersive Experience Built with Spatial SDK award. Get started by visiting the documentation.

Immersive Web SDK: Build immersive web experiences using our new Immersive Web SDK and leverage modern architecture, familiar workflows, and production-ready systems to streamline your workflow. Projects built for the web will be eligible for the Best Immersive Experience Built with Immersive Web SDK award.

Android Development: Android apps that leverage features unique to Meta Quest, solve a user problem arising from using a Meta Quest, or are uniquely useful when Meta Quest is in Travel Mode are eligible for Best Android App awards. Get started by exploring our Android app documentation.

React Native: Projects that creatively reimagine existing mobile or web apps, or are entirely new immersive experiences using React Native are eligible for the Best Experience Built with React Native award.

Get Started Today

Whether you’re an indie creator or part of an established studio, this is your chance to showcase your concepts, skills, and ingenuity.

If you’re not already a member of the Start Program, apply now to join the competition.

Register to participate on Devpost and check out exclusive Start member programming and resources in the Developer Forum.

Submit your project by the deadline on December 9 and in accordance with the Official Rules on Devpost.

You've got just over a month to build something incredible. Whether you're polishing an idea you've been sitting on or starting fresh, the clock is ticking.

We can’t wait to see what you’ll create.

For the latest developer news and updates, check out our release notes, subscribe to our newsletter, and follow us on X and Facebook. Be sure to share your projects on social media and tag us!

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