Epic Games is paying up to $50,000 for AI-built games this November
Epic Games just put real money behind its push into AI game development. The company announced the 2026 AI MegaJam, a four-day competition where developers build a playable game using AI tools and compete for prizes up to $50,000.
The Competition
The jam runs November 12 to 15. Participants can enter solo or in teams of up to five people, with unlimited AI agents allowed to assist. Any AI tools are fair game, whether for code generation, asset creation, or anything else in the pipeline. Games must be built in Unreal Engine or Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN).
An in-person event takes place in San Francisco on November 14 and 15, with teams from OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, and other companies attending. The competition is also open to remote participants. The theme will be revealed during a livestream on November 11.
Prizes
- $50,000 development continuation grants for standout projects that the organizers want to see pushed further after the jam ends
- $7,500 for the best overall Unreal Engine game
- $7,500 for the best overall UEFN game
- $7,500 for the best student project
- Smaller prizes for best solo game, best visuals, best mobile project, and best game featuring AI-powered characters players can speak to
Context
Epic has been leaning into AI publicly. Earlier in October, reports surfaced that developers on its upcoming Marvel and Star Wars crossover shooter were told to take an AI-first approach, using the technology for code and artwork. Epic then confirmed it had used vibe coding to build a new version of its PC launcher.
Register through the 2026 AI MegaJam page on itch.io.
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