🎥 How to Build Buzz: Nail Your PR Story & Strategy | Hosted by Meta Horizon Go-to-Market Academy
Meta Horizon Go-to-Market Academy partners with Start to help developers and creators grow their audiences and build long term visibility in the Meta Horizon ecosystem. This session — How to Build Buzz: Nail Your PR Story & Strategy — marks our second collaboration with Just Drive Media, the award-winning communications agency recognized by PR Daily as one of 2024's top firms. Together, we deliver a new session that helps strengthen your launch communications and press outreach. 💡 In this session, you’ll discover how to: Craft clear and compelling messages that set your title apart Build press-ready materials that drive awareness Plan a communications strategy that builds momentum before and after launch Avoid common pitfalls when reaching out to press and content creators 📚 Accompanying Resources Use these templates to apply what you learn directly to your project. Each includes examples, pro tips, and space to make it your own: Press Release Template: Highlight your game’s hook and unique value proposition with press-ready details. Pitch Template: Write personalized outreach emails that capture attention and land coverage. Fact Sheet Template: Summarize your title’s key info, assets, and selling points for quick reference. Messaging Framework: Define your audience, positioning, and differentiators on one page. PR Plan & Timeline: Plan and track every phase of your campaign to stay aligned and on schedule. Review Guide Template: Prepare detailed materials for press and content creators when distributing early access or review builds. 🎯 Quick Start Guide: Start with the Messaging Framework to clarify your story. Use the Press Release and Fact Sheet Templates to build your core materials. Apply the Pitch Template to personalize your outreach. Follow the PR Plan & Timeline and Review Guide to organize your press beats and manage review coverage.
What's Trending in VR Development? | Tech, Content & Community
What does it take to succeed as a VR developer today? Join renowned YouTube creators and expert developers Dilmer Valecillos, Quentin Valembois, and Roberto Coviello in a roundtable discussion hosted by Darby Blaney. They explore the latest tech trends, such as the Passthrough Camera Access API and essential optimization tools, and share proven strategies for accelerating your workflow, creating content, and building an engaged community. 💡 In this session, you’ll learn: Insights into the latest VR technologies, including the creative potential of the Passthrough Camera Access API and underutilized tools like the Immersive Debugger. Best practices for optimizing performance and accelerating your development workflow using tools like Building Blocks and open-source projects. Proven strategies for building a personal brand, creating effective content, and fostering an engaged community around your work. 🎙️ HOST Darby Blaney, Metaverse Program Manager, Start Lead 🎙️ SPEAKERS Roberto Coviello, Software Engineer Quentin Valembois, Start Mentor Dilmer Valecillos, Developer Advocate ▶️ VIDEO CHAPTERS 👋 Introduction 🕒 00:00 - Welcome & Host Introduction 🕒 00:37 - Meet the Panelists 🚀 Part 1: The Developer Journey 🕒 02:13 - Panelist Origin Stories: How They Got Started in VR ⚙️ Part 2: Tech Trends & Tools 🕒 08:22 - Tech Trend: The Passthrough Camera API & AI 🕒 13:12 - Underutilized Tools: Immersive Debugger & Runtime Optimizer 🕒 17:12 - Best Practices for Performance Optimization 🕒 19:41 - Accelerating Development with Building Blocks & Open-Source Samples 📈 Part 3: Content & Community Growth 🕒 23:20 - Strategies for Content Creation & Building a Personal Brand 🕒 28:18 - The Role of Community Feedback in Development 🕒 32:47 - Inside the Meta Start Mentor Program ✅ Conclusion 🕒 35:06 - Final Thoughts & Thank You 📚 RESOURCES ➡️ Dilmer’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@dilmerv ➡️ Valem’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ValemTutorials ➡️ Roberto’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@xrdevrob ➡️ Spatial Scanner project available on GitHub: https://github.com/meta-quest/Meta-Spatial-SDK-Samples ➡️ 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/startMaster the Meta Developer Dashboard | Boost Engagement & Performance
You’ve launched your app—now what? Join Product Manager Dan Zhao and Partner Engineer Akash Phadtare for a comprehensive tour of the Meta Developer Dashboard, your command center for long-term success. This session provides a practical guide to the dashboard's most powerful tools, showing you how to deepen player engagement while also optimizing app performance. 💡 In this session, you’ll learn: How to use tools like Developer Posts, Notifications, and Destinations to increase player engagement and retention. How to diagnose performance issues and identify growth opportunities using Benchmarks, Funnel Analytics, and Crash Reporting. Best practices for implementing and managing add-on content (IAPs/DLCs) and a guide to reading crash logs to fix bugs faster. 🎙️ SPEAKERS Akash Phadtare, Partner Engineer Dan Zhao, Product Manager ▶️ VIDEO CHAPTERS 👋 Introduction 🕒 00:00 - Welcome & Speaker Introductions 🕒 00:47 - Agenda Overview 📈 Part 1: Deepening Player Engagement 🕒 02:39 - Why Engagement is the Most Important Metric 🕒 03:58 - Using Developer Posts for Updates & Communication 🕒 05:01 - A Guide to User Notifications & Targeting 🕒 07:23 - Using Destinations for Rich Presence & Discovery 🕒 09:07 - Managing User Reviews & Setting Alerts 🕒 11:15 - Technical Deep Dive: Implementing Destinations & Group Presence 🕒 14:25 - Technical Deep Dive: Implementing User Notifications 📊 Part 2: Analytics & Performance Optimization 🕒 17:11 - Using Analytics to Prioritize Your Work 🕒 17:41 - Benchmarks: Compare Your App's Performance 🕒 18:59 - Alerting: Set Custom Thresholds for Key Metrics 🕒 20:02 - Funnel Dashboard: Understanding User Conversion 🕒 21:06 - Crash Reporting: Understanding Real-World Performance 🕒 22:34 - Technical Deep Dive: How to Upload Debug Symbols & Read Stack Traces 💰 Part 3: Add-on Content & Monetization 🕒 27:13 - Overview: Consumables, Durables, and DLCs 🕒 29:19 - How to Test IAPs with Test Users & Credit Cards 🕒 29:55 - Technical Deep Dive: Server-to-Server APIs for Purchases 🕒 31:28 - Conclusion & Final Recommendations 📚 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/startDesigning for Teens & Young Adults | Player Psychology, Monetization & Live Ops
Unlock the strategies behind the most successful games for teen and young adult players on the Meta Horizon Store. In this data-driven session, Anish Baby George, Meta’s Head of Games Growth & Monetization, breaks down the core psychological motivations of this key audience. You’ll see how to translate those insights into powerful game mechanics and discover how to structure effective live service events and plan high-impact holiday campaigns that drive long-term retention. 💡 In this session, you’ll learn: How to translate the core psychological motivations of teen players into actionable game design for progression, customization, and social spaces. A complete playbook for planning and executing high-impact holiday campaigns that capture seasonal excitement and drive revenue. A proven framework for live service operations, from structuring a weekly content cadence to planning major quarterly updates. 🎙️ SPEAKER Anish Baby George, Head of Games Growth & Monetization ▶️ VIDEO CHAPTERS 👋 Introduction: Understanding the Audience 🕒 00:00 - Welcome & Introduction 🕒 01:33 - Defining the Teen & Young Adult (TYA) Audience (Ages 13-24) 🕒 05:19 - Core Principles for Designing with Safety & Privacy 🧠 The Psychology of TYA Players 🕒 06:52 - The 6 Key Aspects of Successful TYA Games 🕒 10:02 - The Science: Self-Determination Theory (PENS Framework) 🕒 12:01 - Motivation 1: Relatedness (Social Connection) 🕒 14:11 - Motivation 2: Competence (Skill & Mastery) 🕒 15:52 - Motivation 3: Autonomy (Choice & Control) ⚙️ Actionable Design & Monetization Principles 🕒 17:26 - Principle 1: Foster Skill Building with Simple Interactions 🕒 18:29 - Principle 2: Integrate Deep Customization 🕒 19:11 - Principle 3: Create Flexible Social Spaces 🕒 20:17 - Principle 4: Structure Progression (e.g., Season Pass) 🗓️ Live Service & Holiday Event Strategy 🕒 21:25 - The Live Service Cadence: A Framework for Ongoing Content 🕒 25:02 - Why Holiday Events Are Critical for Growth 🕒 26:12 - The 5-Factor Playbook for a Successful Holiday Event ✅ Conclusion & Audience Comparison 🕒 30:12 - Key Differences: Designing for Older Audiences (25+) 🕒 31:52 - Summary: How to Combine Motivations for a Hit Game 📚 RESOURCES ➡️Growth Insights Series: Tips for Monetizing In-App Purchases on Horizon: https://developers.meta.com/horizon/blog/tips-monetizing-in-app-purchases-free-to-play-strategies ➡️ Growth Insights Series: Building Competency in New User Onboarding: https://developers.meta.com/horizon/blog/growth-insights-series-building-competency-new-user-onboarding/ ➡️ Growth Insights Series: Effective Expectation Setting in Your Product Details Page https://developers.meta.com/horizon/blog/growth-insights-series-effective-expectation-setting-product-detail-page-engagement-retention/ ➡️ 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/startVR Hand Interactions Explained: Developer Deep Dive for Meta Quest (Unity & Unreal)
Unlock the full potential of hand interactions on Meta Quest in this technical deep dive from members of the Meta Interaction SDK team. Product Designer Stella Mühlhaus and Software Engineer Dave Nelson explore the core principles, best practices, and powerful tools available to create intuitive and engaging hands-first interactions. 💡 In this deep dive, you’ll learn: The key advantages of hands over controllers: embodiment, ease of use, and flexibility. How to implement core mechanics like Direct Touch, Grabbing, Hand Posing, and Gestures. Advanced techniques for Locomotion, Improved Throwing, and physics-based Natural Interactions. The latest system-level improvements in hand tracking, including Hands 2.3 and fast motion updates. A complete overview of the Interaction SDK for both Unity and Unreal Engine. Whether you're starting a new project or adding hand tracking to an existing app, this session provides the expert guidance you need to make your hands interactions feel amazing. 🎙️ SPEAKERS Stella Mühlhaus, Product Designer Dave Nelson, Software Engineer ▶️ VIDEO CHAPTERS 👋 Introduction 🕒 00:00 - Welcome & Speaker Introductions 🕒 00:27 - Agenda Overview 🕒 00:47 - Why Build for Hands? Industry Trends & Core Benefits ✨ Core Interaction Mechanics 🕒 05:16 - Direct Touch & UI Interaction 🕒 06:04 - Grabbing, Posing & Object Interaction 🕒 07:27 - Pose & Gesture Recognition 🕒 08:14 - Hand Menus, Microgestures & Multimodal Input 🚀 Upcoming Features & Experiments 🕒 10:40 - Improved Throwing Mechanics 🕒 11:59 - Locomotion Experiments (Telepath, Walking Sticks, Climbing) 🕒 13:31 - Natural Interactions: Physics-Based Hands 🕒 15:39 - CARL: Custom Action Recognition Library ⚙️ System-Level Hand Tracking Improvements 🕒 17:21 - Overview of Core Tracking Updates 🕒 17:49 - Microgesture Improvements & Hands 2.3 🕒 19:55 - Fast Motion Improvements for High-Speed Tracking 🛠️ Building for Hands: Best Practices & Tools 🕒 21:25 - Best Practices for Designing Hands-First Experiences 🕒 25:31 - Deep Dive: Interaction SDK for Unity & Unreal 🕒 28:27 - Resources: Sample Apps to Get You Started 🕒 29:40 - Closing Remarks 📚 RESOURCES ➡️ Hands Design Guidelines: https://developers.meta.com/horizon/design/hands/ ➡️ Interaction SDK: https://developers.meta.com/horizon/documentation/unity/unity-isdk-interaction-sdk-overview ➡️ Microgestures Open XR extension: https://developers.meta.com/horizon/documentation/unity/unity-microgestures 🔗 CONNECT WITH US ➡️ Developers Blog: https://developers.meta.com/resources/blog/ ➡️ Meta Quest Developer Hub: https://developers.meta.com/horizon/documentation/unity/ts-mqdh/ ➡️ 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/startF2P vs. Premium | A Start Developer Panel on VR Monetization
Choosing between Free-to-Play and Premium is one of the biggest decisions a VR developer can make. In this session, we learn the unfiltered monetization strategies from the creators of hit games Moto X, Sail VR, Swordsman, UG, and Clay Hunt VR. Hosted by Scaled Partner Manager Rita Brennan Turkowski, this panel is a masterclass in navigating the path from initial idea to a thriving, monetized app on the Meta Horizon Store. 💡 In this session you’ll learn: When to choose a Free-to-Play (F2P) vs. a Premium pricing model. How to pivot your monetization strategy, even after launch. Proven techniques for building and leveraging a passionate community on Discord and beyond. Expert advice on Early Access, live ops, and creating viral social mechanics. 🎙️ HOST Rita Brennan Turkowski, Scaled Partner Manager 🗣️ PANELISTS Kyle Joyce (Enver Studio) - Moto X, Steal a Monkey Spencer Cook (Continuum) - UG Garett Cook (Red Team Interactive) - Sail VR Almir Brljak (Sinn Studio) - Swordsman, Battlegrounds Aleksi Rantonen (Shotgun Gaming Oy) - Clay Hunt VR ▶️ VIDEO CHAPTERS 👋 Introduction & Panelist Expertise 🕒 00:00 - Welcome & Panel Introduction 🕒 00:27 - Audience Poll: Free-to-Play vs. Premium 🕒 01:03 - Meet the Developers: Panelist Expertise & Games 🤔 Monetization & Concept Validation 🕒 03:37 - Icebreaker: How Game Genre Drives Your Monetization Choice 🕒 05:41 - Concept Evolution: Knowing When to Pivot or Quit 🕒 08:06 - Lessons from Launch: What We Learned from Our First Games 🕒 11:06 - Early Access Strategy: How Early is TOO Early? 📣 Community & Marketing 🕒 15:35 - How to Gather Early Signals from TikTok, Discord & Social Media 🕒 17:19 - Techniques for Building Community & Acting on Feedback 🕒 22:22 - The Power of Social Mechanics & Creating Viral Moments 🕒 25:05 - Creating Your Own Content vs. Working with Influencers ✅ Final Advice 🕒 26:48 - "What I Wish I Knew Then": Key Advice for New Developers 🕒 27:40 - Closing Thoughts: Define Your Audience & Monetization Plan 📚 RESOURCES ➡️ Premium Monetization Models: https://developers.meta.com/horizon/resources/monetization-premium-models/ ➡️ Free-to-Play Monetization Models: https://developers.meta.com/horizon/resources/monetization-free-to-play-models/ ➡️ New Monetization Tools for All Developers: https://developers.meta.com/horizon/blog/monetization-tools-meta-horizon-store-developers-quest/ ➡️ Developers Blog: https://developers.meta.com/resources/blog/ ➡️ Meta Quest Developer Hub: https://developers.meta.com/horizon/documentation/unity/ts-mqdh/ 🔗 CONNECT WITH US ➡️ Meta for Developers: https://developers.meta.com/ ➡️ 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/start6 Best Practices For Launching on the Meta Horizon Store
Ready to maximize your VR game's launch success? Learn directly from Benjamin Miller, Head of Store Operations, as he reveals 6 essential go-to-market (GTM) best practices for deploying your title on the Meta Horizon Store - actionable strategies to improve discoverability, increase conversions, and build a thriving community around your product. 💡 In this video, you’ll learn how to: Develop a holistic GTM strategy from pre-launch to post-launch. Leverage pre-launch offers like Coming Soon and Pre-orders to build momentum. Optimize your Product Detail Page (PDP) and A/B test assets for maximum impact. Engage your community using Developer Profiles and other on-platform tools. 🎙️ SPEAKER Benjamin Miller, Head of Store Operations at Meta ▶️ VIDEO CHAPTERS 📈 The VR Market Landscape 🕒 00:00: Welcome & Session Goals 🕒 02:42: VR Market Growth & Developer Opportunity 🕒 05:13: Understanding Modern Launch Challenges 🗺️ Your Go-To-Market Blueprint 🕒 09:43: Framework for Maximizing Launch Success 🕒 12:46: Defining a Holistic GTM Strategy 🕒 18:04: How to Set Goals Using Comparable Titles 🚀 Pre-Launch & Discovery Engine 🕒 21:22: Pre-Launch Offers: Coming Soon vs. Pre-Order vs. Early Access 🕒 25:42: How the Meta Horizon Store Ranking Algorithm Works 🕒 29:01: Advanced Pre-Launch Monetization Tactics 🎨 Asset Optimization & Testing 🕒 30:42: Building a High-Converting Product Detail Page (PDP) 🕒 32:18: A/B Testing Your Assets for Maximum Impact 🕒 33:52: Engaging Your Community with Developer Profiles & Posts ✅ Final Takeaways 🕒 35:40: Key Takeaways for Your Launch 🕒 36:31: Final Recommendations & How to Get Support 📚 RESOURCES ➡️ Check out the first article in our Growth Insights Series: https://developers.meta.com/horizon/blog/tips-monetizing-in-app-purchases-free-to-play-strategies ➡️The Goldilocks Zone Pricing Article: https://developers.meta.com/horizon/blog/optimize-user-time-goldilocks-session-length-meta-quest ➡️ Developers Blog: https://developers.meta.com/resources/blog/ ➡️ Meta Quest Developer Hub: https://developers.meta.com/horizon/documentation/unity/ts-mqdh/ 🔗 CONNECT WITH US ➡️ Meta for Developers: https://developers.meta.com/ ➡️ 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/startApp Discovery - Start Town Hall Q3
Want to learn more about App Discovery on the Meta Horizon Store? The Start community voted to learn more about “App Discovery” during the Start Town Hall (Q3 2025), so we invited Thomas Gratz to share more about how you can optimize your app's distribution on the Store. In addition to this video, we recommend checking out this blog post on Unpacking Discovery.VR 103: Preparing Your App for the Meta Horizon Store
Join our team of experts in this Meta Connect 2025 series as they guide you through the fundamentals of VR development. You’ll learn how to start your project in Unity using Meta’s SDKs, explore essential building blocks for creating immersive experiences, and follow step-by-step instructions to deploy your first VR app. Whether you’re new to VR or looking to expand your skills, this series offers practical insights and hands-on demonstrations to help you succeed in building for Meta’s VR platforms. In the final session of this series, Jake Steinerman guides you through all of the steps to getting your app ready to publish on the Meta Horizon Store, and shares tips on finding and building your community. Join him in walking your app through the steps of passing VRCs, beta testing, building out a Product Detail Page, and finally, publishing your app. Your VR app is built—now let’s get it ready for the Meta Horizon Store. This launch session will guide you through everything from passing Virtual Reality Checks (VRCs) and effective beta testing to building a strong community and optimizing your product detail page. Learn proven strategies for a smooth submission, launch, and post-launch, featuring real-world examples and actionable tips to help your app thrive from day one.
VR 101: Getting Started with VR
Join our team of experts in this Meta Connect 2025 series as they guide you through the fundamentals of VR development. You’ll learn how to start your project in Unity using Meta’s SDKs, explore essential building blocks for creating immersive experiences, and follow step-by-step instructions to deploy your first VR app. Whether you’re new to VR or looking to expand your skills, this series offers practical insights and hands-on demonstrations to help you succeed in building for Meta’s VR platforms. This first session follows Dilmer Valecillos as he shares expert tips and tricks to simplify your project organization and set up your first Unity project using Meta’s SDKs. Join him in building Blossom Buddy—a relaxing MR experience where players can place flowers in their physical space and meet a cute robot buddy. Ready to turn your VR interest into your first creation? This session is your launchpad into VR development, covering what you need to transform your ideas into immersive experiences. We'll walk you through the must-have tools, streamline your setup process and share insider tips that can save you hours of trial and error. Whether you're dreaming of an engaging game or a groundbreaking app, this beginner-friendly session gives you the foundation to start building with confidence.
