How to Build Player Retention Systems for Social VR games | Fast Essentials
Players who finish your tutorial still need a reason to come back, and Start Mentor Tevfik has a framework for exactly that. In this session he breaks down the Retention Triangle: how quests guide players through your game, how badges build visible identity, and how free Meta Platform SDK leaderboards keep your world feeling alive. 💡 By watching this video, you will learn: How to design quests that double as guided tutorials How cosmetic badges and “OG” status markers give players a visible identity How to implement a working leaderboard using the free Meta Platform SDK How daily resets and short-term challenges support long-term retention This session was recorded live in January 2026 as part of the Meta Horizon Start program. 🎬 CHAPTERS 👋 INTRODUCTION 🕒 00:00: Welcome and intro to the Retention Triangle 📐 DESIGNING QUESTS FOR RETENTION 🕒 02:21: Structuring Quests and the Challenge System Architecture 🏅 IDENTITY SYSTEMS 🕒 05:13: Badges and Leaderboards 📚 RESOURCES ➡️ Developers Blog: https://developers.meta.com/resources/blog/ ➡️ Meta Quest Developer Hub: https://developers.meta.com/horizon/documentation/unity/ts-mqdh/ 🔗 CONNECT WITH US ➡️ Sign up to get the latest news from Meta Horizon: https://developers.meta.com/horizon/newsletter 💡 LEARN ABOUT THE META HORIZON START PROGRAM The Meta Horizon Start program provides intermediate and advanced developers with the resources, hands-on support, and expert guidance needed to accelerate their app development. Join a thriving community to get the tools and go-to-market guidance you need to successfully deploy and grow your app on Meta Horizon OS. Apply to Start today: https://developers.meta.com/horizon/discover/programs/start
Build a VR Economy with Leaderboards & In-Game Currency | Fast Essentials
If VR leaderboards give your players a reason to compete, then it’s a robust in-game economy that compels them to stay. In this Start Mentor workshop, Tevfik gives you the full rundown on both systems using a live Unity project. On one side you get Meta Platform SDK leaderboards; on the other, a PlayFab backend that manages virtual currency and in-app purchases across devices. 💡 By watching this video, you will learn: The Meta Platform SDK includes a free leaderboard system that links directly to player profiles and tracks metrics like session joins or high scores. Microsoft PlayFab serves as a cloud backend for managing virtual currency and player inventory across devices. Entitlement checks verify app ownership and protect player data so that progress follows them to any headset. Meta's in-app purchase flow handles the real-money transaction while your backend manages the actual currency grant. This session was recorded live in January 2026 as part of the Meta Horizon Start program. 🎬 CHAPTERS 👋 INTRODUCTION 🕒 00:00: Introduction to Social Systems in Baby VR 📊 LEADERBOARD SETUP 🕒 01:51: Visualizing Leaderboards and Currency in Unity 🕒 03:55: Setting Up Leaderboards in the Meta Dashboard 🕒 06:12: Coding the Leaderboard Logic 💰 ECONOMY AND PERSISTENCE 🕒 08:10: Managing Game Economy with PlayFab 🕒 09:58: Entitlements and Cross-Device Persistence 🕒 12:08: Implementing In-App Purchases 📚 RESOURCES ➡️ Developers Blog: https://developers.meta.com/resources/blog/ ➡️ Meta Quest Developer Hub: https://developers.meta.com/horizon/documentation/unity/ts-mqdh/ 🔗 CONNECT WITH US ➡️ Sign up to get the latest news from Meta Horizon: https://developers.meta.com/horizon/newsletter 💡 LEARN ABOUT THE META HORIZON START PROGRAM The Meta Horizon Start program provides intermediate and advanced developers with the resources, hands-on support, and expert guidance needed to accelerate their app development. Join a thriving community to get the tools and go-to-market guidance you need to successfully deploy and grow your app on Meta Horizon OS. Apply to Start today: https://developers.meta.com/horizon/discover/programs/start
Why Tech Trees Drive Retention in Social VR | Fast Essentials
Players don't remember reaching Level 5. They remember earning their first moderator badge or unlocking the jump ability through a tech tree. Start Mentor Tevfik breaks down why visual ranking systems drive retention in social VR by transforming progression into social capital. Discover how to build branching upgrade paths, replace generic levels with earned status symbols, and create leadership roles that make players feel chosen. This session was recorded live in January 2026 as part of the Meta Horizon Start program. 🎬 CHAPTERS 👋 INTRODUCTION 🕒 00:00 – Social Capital & The Tech Tree System 📈 SOCIAL VR PROGRESSION 🕒 02:51 – The Shift to Social VR & Progression 📊 BADGES OVER LEVELS 🕒 04:48 – Status Symbols vs. Numerical Levels 💡 COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP ROLES 🕒 07:24 – Community Roles & Future Mechanics 🎮 FEATURED IN THIS SESSION ➡️ RC Brains: https://www.meta.com/experiences/rc-brains-social-vr-racing-game/23951323707874281/ 📚 RESOURCES ➡️ Developers Blog: https://developers.meta.com/resources/blog/ ➡️ Meta Quest Developer Hub: https://developers.meta.com/horizon/documentation/unity/ts-mqdh/ 🔗 CONNECT WITH US ➡️ Sign up to get the latest news from Meta Horizon: https://developers.meta.com/horizon/newsletter 💡 LEARN ABOUT THE META HORIZON START PROGRAM The Meta Horizon Start program provides intermediate and advanced developers with hands-on support and expert guidance to accelerate app development. Join a thriving community to access the tools and go-to-market resources you need to successfully deploy and grow your app on Meta Horizon OS. Apply to Start today: https://developers.meta.com/horizon/discover/programs/start
