Square Enix Launches Game Contest With 1 Billion Yen Prize Pool
The contest offers an unusually large prize pool and a direct path to global publishing through Square Enix, signaling a major push to source original game ideas from outside the company.
Reporting from 1 sources: Game Spark.
Square Enix announced the SQUARE ENIX GAME CONTEST 2026, a game development contest with a total prize pool of 1 billion yen. The Grand Prize winner receives 300 million yen. The company will also provide full publishing support for winning works, including distribution and marketing.
The contest is open to individuals, groups, and corporations residing in Japan. Entries must be completely original works that have not won other contests or been released. Square Enix will provide full support for publishing winning works, including distribution, delivery, and marketing.
Submission materials vary by judging stage and include a PDF proposal, a YouTube gameplay video, and an executable ZIP file. The contest has established AI usage guidelines requiring applicants to disclose tools used and guarantee rights. AI-generated parts must be manually rewritten or restructured before commercialization.
Applications run from December 15, 2026, to March 15, 2027, with results announced on June 30, 2027.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.