Eligibility and Country Restrictions

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What are the requirements to participate in the Competition? Participants must be at least 18 years old (and the age of majority in their jurisdiction), have an active Meta account with Developer Access enabled, and they or a member of their team must be a member in good standing of the Meta VR Start Program, and be based in an eligible country. See rules for full details on eligibility.
Are there any regional restrictions on the use of specific development tools or features? All development tools, SDKs, and features used must be available to the general public and/or Meta VR Start Program members. Use of unreleased Meta tools, SDKs, or features is not permitted. There are no additional regional restrictions on tools beyond the eligibility countries listed above.
Are apps currently in development with financial support from Meta eligible for the competition? No. Apps that previously received or are currently in development with financial support from Meta (such as those funded through a Request for Proposal (RFP) or similar programs) are not eligible to participate in the competition.
Are developers working with a Meta Launch Manager and/or Partner Manager eligible to participate? Yes, developers who are considered “managed” (i.e., those with published or soon-to-be published apps in the App Store and assigned to a Meta representative) are eligible to participate, as long as their submitted app is not currently in development with financial support from Meta and significant updates have been made to the app during the competition.
Can studios, companies and organizations enter the competition? Yes, studios, companies and organizations are allowed to participate. However, any sponsorship prizing will be distributed to a single designated individual on behalf of the studio, company or organization. The same rule applies to team entries: prizes will be awarded to one representative for the team.

Content and IP Guidelines

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Are previously published apps eligible to participate? Yes, previously published apps are eligible to participate in the Adapted/Significantly Updated Experience division if they include significant updates introduced specifically for this competition. A "significant update" must add major new features, substantially improve existing features, or integrate new technologies that meaningfully enhance the app’s functionality, user experience, or value, as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion.

A significant update is defined as one or more of the following:
  • Addition of at least one major new feature or capability.
  • Substantial improvements to existing features that result in a demonstrable change in user interaction.
  • Integration of new technologies, platforms, or services that expand the app’s scope.
Examples of significant updates:
  • Implementing Hand Interactions as a new feature.
  • Adding multiplayer support.
  • Introducing a new mixed reality (MR) interaction mode as a new feature.
  • Releasing a new user generated content creation tool.
Examples of updates that do not qualify as significant:
  • Bug fixes or minor UI tweaks.
  • Cosmetic changes (such as a new color scheme).
  • Performance optimization without new user-facing features.
What documentation is required when submitting a previously published app? Entrants must provide a summary (1-2 paragraphs) describing the new features or capabilities added since the app’s original release. Supporting materials such as screenshots, changelogs, or demo videos are strongly encouraged.
What are the content guidelines for apps, especially concerning age ratings (e.g., 10+, 13+, 18+)? Apps must comply with Meta Developer Content Guidelines for age ratings (10+, 13+, or 18+). Content must be appropriate for the selected age group and must not include prohibited content such as obscene, offensive, hateful, or adult-oriented material. All content must comply with Meta’s developer policies and community standards.
Can I port an existing game or experience from another platform? Yes, you may port an existing game or experience, provided it is your original work or you have the necessary rights to use all included assets. The app must be built for Meta VR devices and meet all other eligibility and technical requirements. Ported experiences qualify for the Adapted/Significantly Updated Experience division of the competition, and should be submitted as such.
What are the intellectual property (IP) guidelines regarding originality and the use of third-party assets? Entries must be original to the entrant or use content that is in the public domain or provided by Meta for the contest. If using third-party tools, code, or assets, you must be authorized to use them according to their licensing terms. Entries must not infringe on any third-party rights, including copyright, trademark, or privacy rights.
How will intellectual property be handled for submitted projects? Participants retain ownership of their intellectual property. However, by submitting, you grant Meta a limited license to use your submission for judging and promotional purposes.
Can I submit a wrapper experience? Core experience should be Entrant-built. Thin wrappers around existing platforms or services (YouTube, ChatGPT, etc.) are highly discouraged.

Technical Requirements and Tools

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Are there any technical restrictions on the number of assets, scripts, or other parameters? There are no explicit limits on the number of objects or scripts, but your app must meet Meta’s technical requirements and function reliably on Meta Quest devices. All apps must be packaged as APKs and uploaded to a new release channel named "Competition" in the Meta VR Developer Center or to a GitHub page link (if built with IWSDK/WebXR).
Which external 3D software and asset creation tools are supported? You may use any external 3D software or asset creation tools, as long as the resulting assets are compatible with Unity, Unreal, Immersive Web SDK, etc. Commonly used tools include Blender, Maya, and others, provided you have the proper licenses for any third-party assets used.
Am I required to use a specific build path or engine? Yes, you may use Unity, Unreal, Godot, Native/Adroid, Immersive Web SDK or another engine. This will not impact your prize eligibility. See Rules & Resources for more details.
Am I required to implement Hand Interactions? Your experience must be fully usable with hands, end-to-end. Controller support is welcome, but not required. The test is simple: can someone complete the entire experience without ever pairing a controller? See the Rules & Resources for more details.
Do we have to use only Meta SDKs, or can we use other tools like the XR Interaction Toolkit? Part of the judging criteria is the Technical Implementation of platform tools, particularly the features that define hands-first experiences: gaze interactions (Unity/Unreal ISDK v207+), hand tracking, passthrough, spatial anchoring, and FoV-aware design. You may use any external 3D software or asset creation tools, as long as the resulting assets are compatible with your selected build path and run on Meta VR devices. See Rules & Resources for more details.

Competition and Submission Process

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When are submissions due? Submissions are due by November 18, 2026, at 12:00 P.M. Pacific Time.
How are submissions judged? The judging process for the Meta VR Start Developer Competition involves two main stages: first, all submitted projects are reviewed to ensure they meet the baseline requirements, including alignment with the competition theme, their selected track and division, and proper use of required tools and features.

Projects that pass this initial check are then evaluated by a panel of expert Meta and third party judges according to four equally weighted criteria: innovation and creativity, experience design, technical implementation, and polish and presentation. Each criterion accounts for 25% of the total score, and the highest scoring entries in each category are selected as winners. In the event of a tie, the judges will vote to determine the winner. All judging decisions are final, and entries are assessed based on their state at the submission deadline, with no changes permitted after the entry period closes.
Can I submit multiple entries? No. Each Entrant is limited to submitting one Entry in this Contest.

An Entry is submitted either (i) by an individual on their own behalf, or (ii) by a Team Representative on behalf of a Team or Organization. Participation as a non-Representative Team member does not constitute submitting an Entry. An individual may not both submit an Entry as a solo entrant and serve as a Team Representative, as this would result in two Entries being attributed to that individual.
Is my Entry eligible to win more than one prize? No. Each Entry is only eligible for one prize. If in consideration for multiple prizes, you will be awarded the highest prize value.
Can I be a member of multiple teams or organizations? Yes. You can participate as a member of multiple Teams or Organizations as a non-Representative member, but you may only submit one Entry as either (i) an individual on your own behalf, or (ii) a Team Representative on behalf of a Team or Organization.
Can I work on one project with a team and another one individually? Yes, you may only submit one Entry as either (i) an individual on your own behalf, or (ii) a Team Representative on behalf of a Team or Organization, but you can participate as a member of multiple Teams or Organizations as a non-Representative member.

Permitted Participation Scenarios for an individual:
  1. as a solo entrant, submitting one Entry on their own behalf;
  2. as a solo entrant who submits one Entry on their own behalf and also participates as a non-Representative member of one or more Teams or Organizations (because non-Representative membership does not count as an Entry); or
  3. as a Team Representative, submitting one Entry on that Team or Organization’s behalf (and optionally also serving as a non-Representative member of other Teams or Organizations).
An individual may not both submit an Entry as a solo entrant and serve as a Team Representative, as this would result in two Entries being attributed to that individual.
Is there a maximum number of projects that a team can submit? Yes. Each Team may only submit one project. The Entry must be submitted by a Team Representative on behalf of the Team or Organization.
Is there a maximum team size? No, there is no maximum team size.
What submission information do I need to select when submitting my project? From Rules:
Project must be submitted during the Entry Period and remain available until the Winner Announcement in one of the following ways:
  1. For apps built with Unity, Unreal, Godot, Native/Android or another engine: An APK uploaded to the Meta VR Developer Dashboard under a new release channel named “Competition”.
  2. For apps built with IWSDK (WebXR): A link will be required for judges to access and test your application. See "Deploying to GitHub Pages" for additional details. You may also use your preferred hosting solution (e.g., Vercel, Digital Ocean, AWS, Azure, etc).
  3. All required items must be added to the Submission of the Project on Devpost which includes, but is not limited to:
  • Link to your Project in the Competition release channel (from the Meta VR Developer Dashboard).
  • Demonstration video of your Project that should be less than three (3) minutes and showcase footage of your Project as viewed on a Meta Quest device or via XR Simulator or another equivalent emulator. The video must be uploaded to and made publicly visible on YouTube or Vimeo and a link to the video must be provided on the submission form on the Competition website. Judges are not required to watch beyond three minutes.
  • A text description that explains your inspiration, how you built it, future plans for improvement and a target launch date, if not already published to the Meta VR Store. If your Project is an Adapted / Significantly Updated Experience, Entry should include a summary description of the new features/capabilities added to the application. Screenshots, changelogs and/or demo videos are highly recommended.
  • Select the Division you are submitting your Project into: Net New or Adapted / Significantly Updated Experience.
  • Select the Track you are submitting your Project into: Entertainment, Productivity or Gaming.
Is it mandatory to include a video of our project in the submission? Yes, a video is required as part of submission. See Rules for details.
Is there a specific format or length requirement for the project video? We recommend keeping your video concise (under 3 minutes) and clearly demonstrating your project's key features and innovations.

From Rules: The video must be uploaded to and made publicly visible on YouTube or Vimeo and a link to the video must be provided on the submission form on the Competition website. Judges are not required to watch beyond three minutes.
I have a previously published app that I've updated for the competition, but I'm having trouble creating a shareable URL from the Developer Center for my submission, or my accessible build is past the 90-day limit. Can I use my live Meta Quest Store link in my submission instead? We recommend drafting your updated app as a new project with a different name in the Developer Center and use a private Alpha Channel to upload your latest competition build.

OR if you are unable to generate an invite URL, you you may submit your app’s public Meta Quest Store link as your Entry. Please ensure your submission meets all other eligibility requirements outlined in the Official Rules. This includes ensuring your app remains available and you do not make any updates during the judging period between November 18 at 12pm PST and when winners are announced on or around December 11.

Other

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I'm experiencing technical issues on Devpost, who should I contact? Please reach out to Devpost support directly at support@devpost.com for assistance with technical issues related to the submission form.
What kind of support is available for participants during the competition? Participants can access support through our official Developer Forum, workshops and dedicated office hours, with mentors which can be found here.
Can I use third-party non-Meta devices e.g. bluetooth accessories? Unfortunately we are only able to support testing on Meta VR devices that our large team of globally distributed judges will all have equal access to. Your experience should not require a third-party device to operate.