Square Enix Launches Game Development Contest with ¥1 Billion Prize Pool
Square Enix has rolled out the SQUARE ENIX GAME CONTEST 2026, an ambitious game development competition boasting a hefty prize pool of ¥1 billion. This contest seeks original game concepts specifically designed for PC and mobile platforms, with a focus on projects that showcase novelty, originality, entertainment value, and completeness. The Grand Prize is set at a staggering ¥300 million, which will be awarded to one standout project. In addition, four Masterpiece Awards will each snag ¥100 million, while ten Excellence Awards are up for grabs at ¥30 million each. Winning entries will not only receive financial rewards but also publishing, distribution, and marketing support, along with royalty payments based on sales for selected projects.
The application window opens on December 15, 2026, and will close on March 15, 2027, with winners announced on June 30, 2027. However, aspiring developers must be residents of Japan to participate. To submit their projects, applicants are required to provide a project proposal in PDF format, a private gameplay video uploaded to YouTube (capped at 20 minutes), and a playable build packaged as a ZIP file. Interestingly, AI-generated content is allowed but will follow specific guidelines. Participants must disclose the tools they used, and any AI-generated components may need to be manually refined if the projects advance.
Why it matters
The judging will unfold in three stages, starting with the assessment of proposals and gameplay videos, followed by evaluations of the playable builds and concluding with final interviews. This initiative reflects Square Enix's commitment to fostering innovation in gaming.
Original source
Noisy Pixel
