Introducing Boost Credits & the New Visibility System on VCL

Boost Credits give builders more control over visibility and reward contributors for high-impact feedback, helping active projects get more eyes and faster reviews.

TL;DR - VCL now has Boost Credits – you can spend them to push a project higher in the feed and into a rotating “Boosted now” row, plus give contributors a 2× XP multiplier while your boost is active. - Every account gets 2 Welcome Boost Credits, and builders earn 2 extra credits when their first project is approved, so you can try boosting without paying. - You can earn more credits by giving strong feedback: +1 credit when a builder ranks it *High-Impact*, +0.5 credits when they rank it *Helpful* – so consistent reviewers can fund their own boosts. - Boosted projects get priority visibility over non-boosted ones during the boost window, while the newest submissions still keep a natural spotlight at the top of the feed. - Ranking feedback also earns Builder XP and Contributor XP, improving leaderboard position, homepage visibility, and unlocking future tiers, missions, and deeper Actionable Reviews.

Builders have been asking for more control over how much visibility their projects receive – and contributors have been asking for clearer incentives to give high-quality feedback.

Today we’re rolling out a system that supports both sides: Boost Credits, XP multipliers, and a fair feed ranking model.

This update gives builders more ways to get eyes on their work, rewards contributors for valuable feedback, and keeps the main feed balanced for everyone.

Why We Built This

As VCL grows, more projects enter the feed every day. Builders told us they wanted a way to:

get more consistent feedback
attract contributors faster
launch updates with more visibility
keep their projects from being buried by newer posts

At the same time, contributors asked for:

clearer incentives to write thoughtful feedback
better signals that a builder is active and will actually read and rank reviews

Boost Credits and the new ranking rules are the foundation for that.

How Boost Credits Work

Boost Credits let you push a project higher in the feed and give contributors a 2× Contributor XP multiplier on any feedback they leave *while the boost is active*. That means more visibility for the project and a stronger reason for contributors to jump in quickly.

You can use Boost Credits to:

boost your own project when you ship something important
boost someone else’s project you want to support or learn from

When you activate a Boost, you can also add an optional changelog so contributors know what changed and what you’d like feedback on (for example: “New onboarding flow”, “New level design”, “Pricing page test”).

Right now there are three Boost packages:

Mini Boost (1 credit) – quick visibility boost for testing
Standard Boost (2 credits) – extended reach and engagement
Launch Boost (4 credits) – maximum visibility for launch days

We’ll continue to tune durations and packages as we learn from usage.

How to Earn Boost Credits

Everyone starts with 2 Welcome Boost Credits so you can try boosting without paying anything.

Builders also receive 2 bonus Boost Credits when their first project is approved, giving them an extra push for their initial launch.

After that, you can earn more credits simply by giving high-quality feedback:

+1 credit for feedback that builders rank as High-Impact
+0.5 credits for feedback that builders rank as Helpful

This means anyone who consistently delivers strong feedback can earn enough credits to boost their own projects.

Credits stay valuable long-term — we plan to use them across more surfaces over time (for example, unlocking deeper review tools or boosting contributor profiles for 1-on-1 paid feedback).

How Boosted Visibility Works

Boosting increases a project’s visibility in two ways: it gets priority placement in the main feed and a dedicated spot in the “Boosted now” row while the boost is active.

Here’s how it works at a high level:

- Boosted row stays fresh, but you don’t disappear. While your boost is active, your project is part of a rotating “Boosted now” rail. Projects take turns in the visible slots so newer boosts don’t permanently bury earlier ones.

- Priority placement in the main feed. Boosted projects are given preferred positions in the feed so they’re seen more often than standard, non-boosted projects during the boost window.

- New projects still get a natural spotlight. The newest submissions keep a protected place near the top of the feed, so builders who haven’t boosted yet still get an initial burst of visibility.

The result: when you boost, you’re not just getting a one-time bump. You’re buying a time-boxed period where your project is regularly surfaced in front of contributors, while the feed still stays fair for everyone else.

Better Feedback Through XP

Every time you rank feedback on your project, you earn Builder XP. This:

improves your position on the Builder Leaderboard
increases your chances of being featured on the VCL homepage
makes it easier for contributors to discover your work

Contributors earn Contributor XP when their feedback gets ranked, helping them unlock higher tiers and future missions.

How ranking works:

High-Impact (+5 XP) – you plan to act on the feedback
Helpful (+2 XP) – useful insight or perspective
Clarify (0 XP) – you need more information
Heart (0 XP) – simple acknowledgement

Fast ranking earns bonus XP (extra XP if you rank within the first 24–72 hours), which keeps the feedback loop moving quickly.

Builders who regularly rank feedback get a green activity indicator next to their name. Contributors can see which builders are engaged, and those projects tend to receive more reviews over time.

What’s Next

Boost Credits and the new visibility system are just the first step. Over the coming weeks and months, we’ll be introducing:

new contributor tiers
missions and earning paths
deeper Actionable Reviews for structured, paid feedback
more ways to earn and use Boost Credits across the ecosystem

Our goal is to build a feedback flywheel where high-effort contributors are rewarded and builders have predictable ways to grow and improve their projects.

Start Boosting Today

Every account already has 2 Welcome Boost Credits, and builders receive 2 extra credits when their first project is approved. Head to your Boost Credits tab, pick a project, optionally add a short changelog, and see how much more feedback a Boost can generate.

This update is just the beginning, and your feedback will help us refine the system as we grow.