Epic Games offers up to Rs 47 lakh for AI-powered games in four-day competition

Epic Games is offering developers grants and cash prizes worth up to Rs 47 lakh ($50,000) to create video games using artificial intelligence (AI) and its development tools as part of its 2026 AI Mega Jam, scheduled for November 12 to 15. The four-day competition will allow participants to use AI tools for tasks ranging from asset generation to coding, with games built using Unreal Engine or Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN).

The competition is open to remote participants, with teams comprising up to five human members and an unlimited number of AI agents. An in-person event will also be held in San Francisco on November 14 and 15, bringing together teams from companies including OpenAI, Google, Anthropic and others.

Epic Games announced the event as an opportunity for developers to experiment with AI-assisted game creation, prototype new mechanics and explore creative ideas. The competition offers a $7,500 first-place prize for the top overall Unreal Engine and UEFN games, another $7,500 award for the best student-led submission, and continuation grants of up to $50,000 for selected projects.

How to participate in Epic Games’ 2026 AI Mega Jam

The AI Mega Jam will run online from November 12 to 15, allowing developers to participate from anywhere or work with their local game development communities. Those attending in person can join the event at Digital Jungle in San Francisco on November 14 and 15.

Epic Games said participants could use any AI tools in their workflows, including tools for generating assets and coding agents. The company encouraged developers to use the competition to test ideas and build prototypes that they might not otherwise have had the time or resources to pursue.

“Jam online from anywhere, with your local game dev community, or in person in San Francisco at Digital Jungle, where you'll build alongside teams from Anthropic, Google, Meshy, OpenAI, SpaceXSI, and more,” Epic Games said.

“Bring any AI tools into your workflow, from asset generation to coding agents. Get creative! Prototype the mechanic you never had time for, or try the art style you weren't sure you could pull off,” the company added.

Epic Games AI Mega Jam prize money

The competition has three funding opportunities for developers whose projects stand out.

• First-place prize: $7,500 (approximately Rs 7 lakh) for the top overall Unreal Engine and UEFN games.
• Student prize: $7,500 (approximately Rs 7 lakh) for the best student-led submission.
• Continuation grants: Up to $50,000 (approximately Rs 47 lakh) for selected projects to continue development and move towards full-scale production after the event.

The continuation grants are intended to help promising projects progress beyond the four-day competition. The awards also give developers an opportunity to explore how AI tools can support game development, from initial concepts to playable prototypes.

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Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney’s push towards AI

The competition comes amid Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney’s previously stated push to expand the company's use of AI. Earlier in October, Sweeney said developers were being moved to “retool maximum AI acceleration”.

Sweeney argued that the goal was not simply to produce the same amount of work with fewer employees, but to equip developers to create more and better content.

He described the increased use of AI as a way for the company to adapt to the changes brought about by the technology and produce code and content faster.

Responding to criticism that the company was not reading the room, Sweeney said the industry could not return to the way things were in 2016 and needed to adapt to present realities and future developments.

“Much of the room wants it to be 2016 again, but it's not. Our job, as the provider of tools and technology to much of the industry, is to design for the present that is and the future that will soon be. Personally, I'm optimistic about it and see it as empowering for creators,” he said.

The AI Mega Jam reflects that approach by encouraging developers to integrate AI into the creative process while using Epic Games’ tools to build playable games.