Epic is handing out $65,000 in prizes for an AI game jam
The $50,000 in the slogan is a grant to keep developing, not a prize. Epic also corrected its rules, and using AI in the AI MegaJam is now optional.
Epic Games is inviting teams of one to five people to build a playable game in four days with Unreal Engine or Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN). The Epic AI MegaJam 2026 runs Nov. 12 to 15, with a kickoff stream on the 11th, and entrants can join from home or attend in person at Digital Jungle in San Francisco.
The figure in the slogan "Vibe your way to 50K" is easy to misread. Cash prizes total $65,000, and the largest single one is $7,500. The $50,000 is the top grant for continuing to develop the game after the contest.
| Prize | 1st place | 2nd place | 3rd place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Unreal game, best UEFN game and best student project (each) | 7,500 | 5,000 | 2,500 |
| Continuation grants, for Unreal and for UEFN | 50,000 | 25,000 | 10,000 |
There are also prizes by modifier: $5,000 for the best team and $2,500 for each of the Solo Driver, Render Royalty, Glass Box and Walkie-Talkie categories. Pocket Powerhouse has one winner per engine.
Anyone over 18 with an active Epic Games account can enter, from anywhere if they do so online. Projects are accepted until Sunday, Nov. 15, at 5:59 p.m. Pacific (7:59 p.m. in Mexico City).
Using AI agents is optional. Last Word on Gaming notes that the original FAQ said they were required and that Epic admitted that was a mistake. The same outlet collects developers' reactions to the campaign; one asked whether Epic believes it invented the game jam.
Insider Gaming reports that, according to Epic, teams from Anthropic, Google and OpenAI will take part. It frames this within the company's push into AI, with deeper integration planned for Unreal Engine 6.
Winners will be announced by Jan. 29, 2027, at the latest.
