Industry context shows a shift toward casual, social VR content over premium single-player epics, highlighting moves like MyDearest pivoting to casual content and successful free-to-play models such as Gorilla Tag.

Entries can be entirely new projects or substantial updates to existing Quest apps, including features like hand tracking, mixed reality, or multiplayer as significant updates.

Entries and projects remain the developers’ intellectual property, with no implied platform exclusivity unless entrants accept Meta funding under a separate contract that could include exclusivity terms.

Deadline for entries is December 9, with submission via the provided Devpost link; Horizon Start members must apply to participate if not already affiliated.

Prize tracks focus on Entertainment, Lifestyle, and Gaming, with subcategories such as Casual Games and Social Games to emphasize accessible, social, multiplayer experiences.

Meta positions Quest as a social-first platform and is aligning with the shift toward casual, social, free-to-play content that the competition highlights.

The competition runs through December 9, 2025, with judging by December 19 and winners announced around December 23, 2025.

Eight special awards recognize specific capabilities or SDK usage, including Hand Interactions, Passthrough Camera AI, Spatial SDK, Immersive Web SDK, React Native, and Android-focused categories, with prizes ranging from 25,000 to 50,000 and multiple winners per category.

Special awards cover various domains and can have multiple winners per category, with varied prize amounts.

Entries must not have previously received direct funding from Meta.

Author’s take: Meta’s strategy appears aimed at steering indie and studio development toward content for a social, younger Quest audience, leveraging free-to-play formats and in-app purchases to drive engagement and revenue.

Meta launched the Horizon Start Developer Competition 2025, offering a total prize pool of 1.5 million across 32 awards, with prizes up to 100,000 per category.

The competition features a $1.5 million prize pool distributed across 32 award categories.