How I Turned VR Views Into a Real Community
A lot of VR developers today are getting views. TikTok clips go viral. Funny gameplay spreads. People watch. But then…Nothing happens. No players. No community. No retention. I’ve been there too. So instead of guessing, I started building a system inside my own VR projects to turn views into an actual community. This is what actually worked. I reached ~500 members in the first 3 months as a solo developer—and it’s still growing. And in this blog post, I will show you how! The Hard Truth Most VR games don’t fail because they are bad. They fail because they disappear after the first impression. You might even go viral and still end up with zero players. Because: Views don’t stay. Systems do. The Core Idea Views don’t convert by themselves. You need progression for humans, not just gameplay. Think of your community like a game: Players should join → progress → earn → belong Step 1 — The OG Hook (Early Identity) When I started: I posted short clips (simple, raw, not perfect) I pushed one message: “Join now and become an OG.” And early joiners got: OG Discord role Early identity Insider feeling 👉 Why this worked: People don’t join communities. They join identity. Step 2 — Moderator Grind Next, I introduced something very important: 👉 A Mod Role to grind for Players could earn it through activity Contribution = status Now, Discord wasn’t just a chat. It became a place where you can level up socially. Step 3 — Exploit Platform Behavior (Live Streams) This was one of the biggest breakthroughs. Instead of only posting videos, I created a constant presence. Long YouTube live streams Even automated replays Always something “happening” Why this works: Platforms reward presence, not perfection. 👉 YouTube pushes live content heavily 👉 VR gameplay is perfect for passive watching Your game becomes something people run into, not search for. That changes everything. Step 4 — Content Creator Program Then I built this system: Content Creator → Post a video Elite Creator → 1,000 views Gold Creator → 5,000 views Rewards: Roles Cosmetics Recognition Players stopped being just players. They became: Creators, marketers, and community leaders Step 5 — Live Events = Real Conversion Finally, I focused on something most devs ignore: 👉 Live moments I ran: Playtests DJ events Movie nights Discord hangouts At one point, I noticed something interesting: When nothing was happening, nobody joined. The moment something live started, people showed up instantly. Because VR is not content. VR is presence. People don’t join because your game looks cool. They join because: Something is happening right now, and they don’t want to miss it. The Real System (Simplified) What I ended up building was this: Content → Identity → Progression → Creation → Events → Community Each step feeds the next. The Mistake Most VR Developers Make Most developers do this: Post update Share feature Drop the Discord link But players don’t care. Because: There is no identity No progression No reason to stay What Actually Works If you want to turn views into a real VR community: Give early identity (OG roles) Add community progression (mod/status grind) Use platform advantages (live streams) Turn players into creators via Content Creation Programs Create live moments both in Discord & Game (events) Final Thought Your VR game is not just a game. It’s a social system. And if you design it right, you don’t need to chase players anymore. Your community brings them to you.📰What’s New in Meta XR SDK v85 | Start Mentor Workshop
Hosted by Quentin Valembois (Valem) • March 2026 • Meta Horizon Start Overview (what v85 focuses on) Meta Horizon OS v85 includes updates across: Building Blocks (including Multiplayer + AI Building Blocks) Mixed Reality (new Spatial Test Framework and Scene-less MR support) Locomotion updates (input mapping + revised control scheme) What’s coming next (FrameSync) Watch this part: 00:00 Building Blocks (Unity): faster setup, less boilerplate Building Blocks are modular, drag‑and‑drop capabilities for Unity projects that can automatically configure project settings and required components (e.g., passthrough, hand tracking, MR setup, etc.). The intent is to let you focus on the code that’s unique to your experience. What to take away: Building Blocks = the “fast path” for adding platform features correctly. They can handle annoying setup details (settings, manifests, component wiring). Watch this part: 01:07 Multiplayer Building Blocks: Photon Fusion 2.1 support What’s new in v85 Multiplayer Building Blocks now support Photon Fusion 2.1, unlocking newer Fusion features for Start devs who choose Fusion as their networking provider. Fusion 2.1 highlights: Forecast Physics Object Send Priority Large Data RPCs (Fusion used to have a small payload limit—large data RPC expands what you can send) Custom Tick Rates Faster Host / Master Client Switching Configurable AOI (Area of Interest) Player Unique ID When you drop a Multiplayer Building Block (e.g., auto matchmaking), you can choose provider: Unity Netcode for GameObjects, or Photon Fusion (now v2.1 supported) Also, voice chat support in the Building Blocks flow is tied to Fusion in the demonstrated setup. Watch this part: 02:19 AI Building Blocks updates: more accurate boxes + image segmentation What’s new in v85 AI Building Blocks improvements: More accurate 3D bounding boxes for object detection overlays 2D Image Segmentation option appearing in the tooling Watch this part: 06:45 “Scene-less Mixed Reality”: why it matters The problem with relying only on Scene Model/room setup Scene Model (room scan) is powerful, but can be: Overkill for simple MR interactions (e.g., “place one object on a surface”) Not runtime-updated (doesn’t naturally account for small moving objects in the moment) The v85 direction: more seamless MR workflows The workshop emphasizes using depth-powered environment raycasting to collide against real geometry without requiring a full scene model workflow. Key concept: Environment Raycast uses depth sensing to “hit test” the real world, enabling placement and interaction without scene model dependency. Watch this part: 08:27 What’s new for Scene-less MR in v85: Scene-less World Lock World Lock (and what changed) World Lock keeps virtual content stable in physical space even when the user recenters. Previously, this was tied to scene model workflows. What’s new in v85 Scene-less World Lock—world-lock behavior that works without requiring a scene model. Why it’s a big deal: It moves MR closer to “drop in/runtime MR” without asking users to preconfigure a full room scan for basic anchoring behavior. Watch this part: 12:11 Debugging MR got a major upgrade: Spatial Test Framework Before: Immersive Debugger The Immersive Debugger can help you inspect/tweak MR-related settings in a build and visualize MRUK data (mesh, collisions, navmesh overlays, etc.). New in v85: Spatial Test Framework (MRUK tests) The Spatial Test Framework brings automated testing principles (Unity Test Framework) into MR workflows by letting you run tests across multiple room prefabs/scene configurations. What it enables: Automatically validate your MR logic across many room layouts (bedroom, office, living room, etc.) Reduce manual “try it in 20 different spaces” testing Write your own tests by extending the MRUK test base class (as demonstrated conceptually) Watch this part: 18:50 Locomotion: input mapping + revised control scheme v85 includes an update to locomotion documentation and recommended patterns around locomotion input mapping, focused on making multiple locomotion systems work more cleanly together (especially avoiding input conflicts like “UI ray + teleport ray at the same time”). What’s new: Revised Control Scheme Watch this part: 26:24 More to come: FrameSync on Meta Horizon OS FrameSync is as an upcoming/important performance-related development, aiming at: More consistent smoothness Fewer still frames Lower motion-to-photon latency Watch this part: 29:24 Quick reference Photon Fusion 2.1 “What’s new” (from slide): https://doc.photonengine.com/fusion/current/getting-started/preview-2-1/whats-new-2-1 Locomotion input mapping doc (from slide): https://developers.meta.com/horizon/design/locomotion-input-maps/ FrameSync blog (from slide): https://developers.meta.com/horizon/blog/framesync-meta-horizon-os Environment Raycast example video (from slide): https://youtu.be/r9gedHRY0rc
What VR Developers Can Learn From Animal Company’s Viral Growth
In the past, growing a game meant running ads, contacting influencers, and pushing constant updates across social media. Today, the growth dynamic is shifting. Some of the fastest-growing games are not succeeding because they post more marketing content. They are succeeding because their gameplay naturally creates content that players want to share. One of the most interesting recent examples of this approach is Animal Company, a VR title that achieved remarkable organic growth in a short period of time. Within its first six months, the game reportedly generated: 1B+ TikTok views ~500,000 peak daily active users 9× growth in paying users Instead of relying heavily on traditional marketing channels, the game’s design itself became the marketing engine. For VR developers, this case offers several valuable lessons. I will share them in this blog post. 1. Design for Watchability, Not Just Playability Game developers traditionally optimize for playability: mechanics, progression, difficulty, and retention. But in today’s attention economy, there is another critical design factor: Watchability. Watchability means designing moments that are entertaining even to someone who is not playing the game. Animal Company’s gameplay consistently produces moments that work well on platforms like TikTok, Reels, and Shorts. These moments often involve: chaotic multiplayer interactions unexpected physics outcomes exaggerated emotional reactions social improvisation between players When these moments happen in VR, they are naturally clipped and shared by players. The result is organic discovery. Players become marketers simply by sharing their gameplay experiences. 2. Social Chaos Creates Shareable Moments Many successful VR experiences lean heavily into social unpredictability. Animal Company embraces this philosophy by building systems that encourage chaotic, funny, or surprising interactions between players. These include elements like: physics-driven movement expressive avatars playful or comedic animation systems environments that encourage experimentation The goal is not to script funny moments. The goal is to create conditions where funny moments are likely to happen. When these unpredictable situations occur, players instinctively record and share them. 3. Emotional Reactions Translate Well to Video VR has a powerful advantage compared to traditional games: embodied reactions. When players are immersed in VR, their responses are often more physical and emotional. Animal Company leverages this by using: spatial audio cues environmental tension sudden encounters or surprises These mechanics create intense player reactions — screams, laughter, panic, excitement. For social platforms, these reactions are extremely compelling to watch. A viewer might not fully understand the game mechanics, but they instantly understand someone screaming in VR. That emotional clarity makes clips far more shareable. 4. Turn Players Into Performers Another key idea behind the game’s success is treating environments as stages rather than just levels. Players are given tools and systems that allow them to perform: comedic skits stunts chaotic multiplayer challenges improvised social moments In other words, the game encourages players to create content inside the game world. This transforms the typical player into something more powerful: a content creator. And when hundreds or thousands of players begin creating content, the game’s reach expands far beyond the original player base. 5. Build a Creator Ecosystem Games that grow through social media often develop strong relationships with their most active creators. Animal Company reportedly implemented an invite-only creator space within its community — a Discord group where top creators can communicate directly with the development team. This type of ecosystem has multiple benefits: Creators receive recognition and support Developers gain direct feedback from influential players The community feels more connected to the game’s evolution Over time, this creates a feedback loop where creators help drive discovery, while the developers support the creators’ ability to produce content. 6. Community Feedback as a Development Engine Another notable aspect of the game’s development approach is its responsiveness to the community. Frequent updates and a close relationship with the player base allow developers to quickly react to emerging ideas, memes, or trends within the community. When players feel that their ideas can influence the game, they become more engaged — and more invested in the ecosystem surrounding the game. In many cases, community culture becomes just as important as the gameplay itself. 7. Monetization After the Community Forms One of the most interesting strategic choices was delaying monetization early in the game’s lifecycle. Rather than introducing monetization immediately, the focus was first placed on strengthening the social gameplay loop and building a loyal community. Once players were emotionally invested in the game and its culture, customization options and cosmetic purchases became more attractive. This approach often leads to healthier long-term monetization because spending is driven by expression and identity, not pressure. The Bigger Lesson Animal Company highlights an important shift in how games grow today. Successful games are no longer only designed to be fun to play. They are designed to be fun to watch. When gameplay naturally produces moments that players want to share, marketing becomes embedded directly into the experience itself. Instead of competing purely through paid acquisition, games can grow through the creativity of their own communities. For developers, this raises an important design question: If a player records 30 seconds of your game, would someone else want to watch it? If the answer is yes, you may already have the foundation for organic growth. If you're interested in learning more about designing games that generate shareable content, I’ll be discussing practical strategies and examples in my upcoming session: Craft Social Content Players Want to Watch | Growth Series, Part 2 📅 March 13, 2026 🕚 11:00 AM PDT Looking forward to seeing other developers there and continuing the conversation around how games and creators can grow together.
Shorten Time-to-First-Dollar with Meta Horizon Launch Tools
Launching an app on the Meta Horizon Store is multi-faceted; it doesn’t just start on the day of publish. In fact, what you do prior to shipping your app on the Meta Horizon Store is more important than ever, and it demands a strategic launch that’ll help you stand out. A strong pre-launch makes titles easily discoverable before Day 0 and helps sustain momentum afterward. When discoverability is treated as an afterthought, developers tend to face an uphill battle for visibility post-launch. That’s why we’re excited to highlight our new video-enabled educational playbook, designed to help you think about different pre-launch strategies while you're still building and show how to generate anticipation, gather feedback, and drive early adoption. Below, we highlight each launch feature you can leverage, along with a recommended “Golden Path” sequence for effective pre-launch strategies to help you cut your time-to-first dollar. You’ll also get to hear from some other developers who have had success launching with these tools. Let’s dive in. Launch Features: Your Toolkit for a Strong Debut Meta provides a suite of launch features to help you maximize your app’s visibility and success. Here’s how you can leverage each tool: Playtesting: Gather early feedback while you’re still building Playtesting gives you a private space to gather feedback from real users. It’s your chance to validate gameplay, comfort, and performance early so you can refine with confidence. You can think of it as a small, closed test (more like micro-beta) that gives you a read on user preferences, validates core mechanics, and surfaces issues that only show up in the wild. Pro Tip: Start playtesting as early as possible—even before your app is polished. Respond to written reviews to build trust and show you’re listening to your community. "By carefully limiting access during early playtesting for UG, we were able to validate game mechanics, iterate on in-app purchase pricing, and fine-tune the experience to hit our target session length and other critical metrics. That data directly informed our go-to-market strategy. Ultimately, it’s not about whether the studio loves the game; it’s about whether players do. Testing early and often made all the difference." - Spencer Cook, CEO, Continuum "Trusted testers are worth their weight in gold. I’ve seen time and time again the power of having five to ten highly-engaged players playing directly with the developers, and I’d take this over a disparate group of thousands of players any day. The earlier this happens, the better the chances of launch success because our development decisions are grounded in real behavior and not our own assumptions about what players want." - Kyle Joyce, CEO, Enver Studio (Scary Baboon) Coming Soon Pages: Generate anticipation within 180 days of launch Building out a coming soon page lets you showcase your app up to 180 days before launch to help build excitement and provide users with an opportunity to wishlist your title. Keep in mind that a coming soon page is best for capturing interest, not creating it. Most visibility and growth will come from your own marketing efforts off-platform, like social posts, trailers, and community engagement. Pro Tip: A/B test your store assets (key art, trailer, description) to see what resonates with your audience. "The single biggest determinant of a game’s success is pre-marketing. Whether that’s on socials, or Coming Soon pages, you need to be able to drive your community to take an action like signing up for email alerts or a Discord community." - Kyle Joyce, CEO, Enver Studio (Scary Baboon) "Across titles like Starship Troopers VR, Hitman 3 VR, and BEATABLE, the Coming Soon page helped us inform our community and influencers early while capturing wishlists. It’s become a key tool for building awareness and demand well before launch." - XR Games Pre-orders: Secure early sales within 90 days of launch Pre-orders enable users to purchase paid apps up to 90 days before launch, while providing developers with a convenient way to convert interest into committed downloads and generate revenue before release. You’ll need a price, description, and marketing assets to set up pre-orders. "Offering pre-orders for Hitman 3 VR: Reloaded significantly increased launch-day sales by concentrating demand and excitement ahead of release. It gave us a much stronger day-one performance than previous launches." - XR Games Early Access: An open beta for ongoing refinement Launching your app with an Early Access label tells users that it’s still in development, but it also enables you to reach a broader audience, gather real feedback, and allow space to continue refining your app pre and post-launch. Apps best suited for Early Access are stable and enjoyable, but not fully polished. Remember, this is still your only chance to make a first impression, so consider carefully whether your app is ready for an audience. This feature can be especially beneficial for free-to-play (F2P) apps, where lowering the barrier to entry helps you reach more players and build momentum. And since the app is free, users tend to be more forgiving in their reviews. If you utilize the Early Access label, it is your responsibility to communicate what it means to your users. Pro Tip: Once you remove the Early Access label, it’s permanent—plan your transition carefully. "Early access let us grow a passionate community while we were still shaping the game. Their feedback sharpened our priorities and their enthusiasm created a foundation for us to build around." - Johnny Wing, General Manager, Orion Drift "Early access is fundamental to community building and game success. Of course it helps surface critical bugs early on but more importantly it creates a core group of highly invested players. The Quest Store thrives on the network effect. Players want to be the first to discover a game and be the one to recommend it to their friends and take a massive pride in discovering something early." - Kyle Joyce, CEO, Enver Studio (Scary Baboon) "Early access for BEATABLE was critical in building a passionate community before launch. It created early advocates who helped amplify the game organically the moment we went live." - XR Games The Golden Path: Putting it all together for a recommended launch sequence The Golden Path launch sequence can set you up for maximum exposure, interest, and conversions. Using each of these features we’ve covered today sequentially can put you on the path to build an audience early, sustain momentum, and set your app up for a strong debut. In the graphic above, you can see a recommended cadence on when to start leveraging each feature. Remember, this is just a recommendation; you can define your own strategy and determine what makes the most sense for your title. "Meta has created flexible launch paths that let developers choose what best fits their game. For UG, Early Access was the perfect way to set expectations around polish, bugs, and our roadmap toward a full future launch. It invited players to join us early, get excited about the vision, and actively influence what UG is becoming. This approach let us build hand-in-hand with our community and even helped spark a wave of user-generated content as players documented the game’s growth from its earliest days." - Spencer Cook, CEO, Continuum Incentivization and Best Practices Know your audience: We’ve broken down key audience behaviors and motivations that can help you plan effective content and marketing strategies for your VR apps. Reward early adopters: Offer exclusive content, discounts, or early access perks to wishlisters and pre-order customers. Leverage off-platform marketing: Most momentum comes from your own efforts—use social media, communities, and events to drive awareness. Communicate clearly: Use Developer Posts and direct messaging on platforms such as Discord to keep your audience engaged and informed. Measure and optimize: Use integrated analytics to track what’s working and adjust your strategy in real time. Ready to launch? Start building momentum today Don’t let your launch be just another date on the calendar. Utilize launch features and our new resource guide to build momentum, engage your community, and set your app up for lasting success.4 Community Roles to Define Before Launch | Mentor Workshop
The hardest part of running a social VR game isn’t the code. Tevfik, VR developer and Start Mentor, makes the case that the studios with the most stable player bases are those that started building their community teams early. Drawing from his own RC Brains Discord, he shows how moderator tiers and clearly defined permission limits give your community the structure it needs to grow without pulling you away from development. This session was recorded live in February 2026 as part of the Meta Horizon Start program. 🎬 CHAPTERS 👋 INTRODUCTION 🕒 00:00: Why Community Building Is Tricky 📣 PART 1: WHY COMMUNITY TEAMS MATTER 🕒 01:15: Games Don't Scale, Communities Do 🕒 03:00: The Cost of Starting Too Late ⚙️ PART 2: CORE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 🕒 04:20: Moderators vs. Community Managers: Two Distinct Roles 🕒 05:08: Safety vs. Growth: The Simple Rule 🎯 PART 3: RECRUITING AND PERMISSIONS 🕒 06:15: Who to Recruit and What to Avoid 🕒 06:50: Permission Architecture and Why Limits Matter 🔴 PART 4: LIVE DISCORD WALKTHROUGH 🕒 09:14: RC Brains Moderator Structure in Practice 🕒 10:32: Content Creators, Event Posters, and Extended Community Roles 🕒 11:37: Wrap-Up and Final Thoughts 🎮 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
The Definitive F2P Launch Roadmap for Meta Quest | Free-to-Play Academy (Ep. 1)
In the first session of the Free-to-Play Academy series, Meta's Growth Insights team walks through the strategic foundation required to successfully launch and monetize a free-to-play app on Meta Quest. This session covers business model selection, pre-launch planning, retention-first design principles, and the marketing infrastructure needed to drive sustainable player acquisition. 💡 After viewing this session, you’ll understand how to: Choose the right monetization model (microtransactions, free-to-start, or subscriptions) Build a 6-12 month pre-launch timeline & post-launch content roadmap Build pre-launch social media presence and gather actionable feedback Optimize key art, trailers, and product pages using A/B testing Leverage Developer Dashboard tools for analytics, notifications, and community engagement 🎙️ FEATURING: Gabe Heiland, Chenelle Bremont, Richard Duck & Michelle Vo Recorded in July 2025 as part of the Meta Horizon Start program. 🎬 CHAPTERS �� INTRODUCTION 🕒 00:00 - Welcome to Free-to-Play Academy 🕒 01:29 - Free-to-Play Business Models and Microtransactions 🕒 03:02 - Free-to-Start, Demos, and Subscriptions 📈 F2P FOUNDATIONS 🕒 05:33 - Core Ingredients: Acquisition, Engagement, Retention, Monetization 🕒 12:03 - Acquisition Basics and Perception of Value 🎯 DEFINING QUALITY PLAYERS 🕒 15:55 - Defining and Finding Quality Users 🕒 19:27 - Creators, Influencers, and Designing for Virality 🛠️ LAUNCH PLANNING AND STORE PRESENCE 🕒 23:13 - Acquisition and Launch Strategy Missed Opportunities 🕒 26:11 - Store Presence, Key Art, and Trailers 🤝 COMMUNITY, DATA, AND NEXT STEPS 🕒 32:07 - Social Media Strategy, Community Building, and Feedback 🕒 39:38 - Developer Dashboard Tools, Analytics, and Reviews Workflow 🕒 45:16 - Six Actions for Success and Closing Thoughts 📚 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
How to Launch Successfully on the Meta Horizon Store
Launching successfully on the Meta Horizon Store takes more than a great app; it takes a rock solid go-to-market strategy and the discipline to start months before release. In this session, Meta Head of Store Operations Benjamin Miller lays out the same go-to-market principles his team uses to support hundreds of VR releases each year, from using Coming Soon and Preorder to build demand to running A/B tests that sharpen your trailer and key art. 💡 By viewing this session, you’ll learn how to: Signal Quality to Algorithms Convert Traffic to Users Leverage Off-Platform Growth Execute a Holistic Roadmap Recorded in February 2025 as part of the Meta Horizon Start program. 🎬 CHAPTERS 👋 INTRODUCTION 🕒 00:00 - Welcome & Agenda Overview 📈 MARKET STRATEGY 🕒 02:24 - The Current Opportunity & Challenge 🕒 05:41 - Why Launching Is Harder Than Ever 🕒 09:40 - The 6-Part Framework for Success 🕒 12:46 - Defining a Holistic Go-to-Market Strategy 🕒 18:00 - Setting Goals & Analyzing Competitors 🚀 PRE-LAUNCH & EXECUTION 🕒 21:22 - Coming Soon vs. Pre-Orders vs. Early Access 🕒 25:42 - How Pre-Launch Activity Impacts Ranking Algorithms 🕒 30:42 - Optimizing Your Product Detail Page (PDP) 🕒 32:18 - A/B Testing Your Assets (Do This Early) 🤝 COMMUNITY & GROWTH 🕒 33:52 - Engaging Users On & Off Platform 🕒 36:29 - Final Recap & Next Steps 📚 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
🎥 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.
6 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/startVR 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.
