Meta Just Opened a $1.5M Cash Door for Creators: How to Win the Horizon “Mobile Innovation” Competition by December 8

What’s new (and why it matters right now)

• Fresh program, real cash: Meta’s “Mobile Innovation” competition launched November 3, 2025, with $1.5M in awards across up to 35 prizes; the top three winners earn $100,000 each. Submissions close December 8, 2025, 5:00 PM PT. ^[2]
• Mobile‑first = bigger talent pool: Entries can be built for mobile (or mobile + VR), which opens doors for 2D creators, editors, and interactive storytellers who’ve never shipped in VR. ^[3]
• Eligibility: You must join the Meta Horizon Creator Program (MHCP). Meta created an expedited MHCP process for competition participants. ^[4]
• More cash in the ecosystem: A companion “Mobile Genre Showdown – Reloaded” ran this fall with a $2.5M pool and winners slated to be announced by November 13, signaling Meta’s near‑term appetite to fund creator output. ^[5]

How the money actually works

Prize structure (Mobile Innovation)

• Total pool: $1,500,000
• Top 3 prizes: $100,000 each
• 32 additional prizes: $1.2M split across categories (see Devpost for specifics) ^[7]

Why competitions can pay better than in‑world sales (for now)

Horizon’s native commerce (selling virtual goods in‑world) carries steep platform takes—historically up to 47.5% after combined store and Horizon fees—meaning competitions are a cleaner path to meaningful, near‑term cash for most newcomers. Translation: you can keep 100% of prize money (bonuses historically weren’t fee‑reduced), instead of giving up nearly half on each sale. ^[8]

Eligibility, scope, and must‑haves

• Build for Meta Horizon Worlds using the desktop editor; at least one GenAI feature must be leveraged in your world. ^[10]
• Project must be original, newly published during the competition window, and publicly accessible for judging; include a 3‑minute demo video showing the mobile view. ^[11]
• You must be in MHCP (Meta Horizon Creator Program). If you’re not, apply—Meta says the review for competitors is expedited. ^[12]

Your 7‑day build‑to‑submit sprint

Day 1: Scope a “tiny but addictive” mobile loop

• Choose a loop people repeat in <60 seconds (e.g., time‑boxed challenge, social mini‑game, or bite‑size narrative). Keep mechanics intuitive on a phone. ^[13]
• Sketch 3 screens: home (hook + visual identity), core loop (tap/drag action), and end‑of‑run (progress + share prompt).

Day 2: Draft a one‑pager against the judges’ needs

• Write the Devpost fields up front: What it is, how you built it, mobile‑first choices, GenAI usage, and plans if you keep developing. This keeps your build laser‑focused. ^[14]

Day 3–4: Build with the desktop editor + required GenAI touch

• Implement one GenAI feature (e.g., procedural prompts for variations, AI‑assisted NPC dialogue) that clearly enhances playability or replayability. ^[15]

Day 5: Playtest on mobile, instrument for clarity

• Validate tap targets, readability, and performance under average mobile bandwidth. If a user can’t understand the objective in 5 seconds, iterate. ^[16]

Day 6: Record a tight 3‑minute demo

• Screen‑capture mobile gameplay, narrate value prop and loop, and show the GenAI element briefly. Upload to a public host (YouTube/Vimeo) per rules. ^[17]

Day 7: Compliance pass + submission

• Confirm originality, public availability, MHCP membership, and all required fields. Freeze the build before the deadline to avoid disqualification. ^[18]

Positioning: What wins in November–December

Budgeting and risk management

• Solo build: 40–60 hours over 2–3 weeks (no art buying required if you lean into minimalism and strong color contrast).
• Micro‑team option: 2–3 collaborators (design, scripting, UX). Split prizes via a simple agreement before you submit (Devpost supports team entries). ^[22]
• Downside risk hedge: If you don’t place, you still have a shippable mobile world you can iterate, monetize later via in‑world sales (with the known fee stack), or expand for future Meta competitions. ^[23]

“Top 3 winners receive $100,000 each, and up to 32 additional creators share $1.2M across categories—submissions due December 8, 2025.” ^[24]

FAQ for first‑timers

• Do I need a Meta Quest headset? No—this competition allows mobile‑only worlds. ^[25]
• Can I reuse old projects? No; the world must be newly published during the competition window. ^[26]
• What if I’m not in MHCP yet? Apply now; Meta says applications tied to the competition get expedited review. ^[27]
• Are there other near‑term payouts around Horizon? Yes—the recent “Mobile Genre Showdown – Reloaded” carried $2.5M, with winners slated on or before Nov 13. Track it for benchmark examples. ^[28]

Action plan (do this this week)

Bottom line

In a quarter where many platforms are tightening monetization rules or increasing fees, Meta is actively underwriting creation with multi‑million‑dollar prize pools—and, uniquely, is inviting mobile‑first builders to the table. If you can deliver a tight, replayable loop with a clear AI assist, the $100K‑level prize is within reach—without a VR setup and without surrendering 40–50% to platform taxes on every transaction. Submit before December 8 and put yourself in the payout conversation. ^[37]

Note on timing: This post reflects details available as of Sunday, November 9, 2025, including submission deadlines and prize structures published on Devpost and MHCP pages. Always recheck the rules page before submitting to confirm no last‑minute updates. ^[38]