Please note that if there is any inconsistency between the FAQ below and the Official Rules, the Official Rules will prevail.
General
What is the Meta Horizon Creator Competition: Game Prototype?
It is a competition that challenges creators to use AI tools to build a genuinely playable prototype of one core game experience. Choose one of three genres, build and submit a playable prototype through Devpost, and compete for your share of $300,000 in cash prizes and completion grants. Winners are also invited to rebuild their prototype into a real game on our Early Access creation tools to earn a completion grant (see "The Reward" below).
What is the overall schedule for the competition?
- Registration Opens: August 10, 2026
- Competition Submission Period: August 17, 2026, 10:00 AM PT – September 8, 2026, 1:00 PM PT
- Judging Period: September 9, 2026, 10:00 AM PT – September 30, 2026, 6:00 PM PT
- Winners Announced: On or after October 9, 2026
What is the prize pool for this competition?
The total prize pool is up to $300,000 in cash prizes and completion grants. For more information about competition grants, see Official Rules.
How many prizes will be awarded?
We will award 12 prizes.
What does the distribution of prizes look like?
There are three genre categories, each with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place (9 winners total). There are also three special award categories, each with one winner: Most Innovative, Most Fun to Play, and Most Satisfying Progression. Each award is made up of a cash prize plus a completion grant (see "The Reward").
What are the three genres I can choose from?
- Survival & Resource Management: gather, craft, and survive escalating threats.
- Simulation & Management: repeating invest-harvest-upgrade loops with visible growth.
- Tower Defense & Strategy: defensive systems with unit variety, escalation, and economy.
For this competition we are focused on the core version of each genre. Genre hybrids are welcome, but your prototype is judged against the genre you select at submission.
What should I keep out of scope for this competition?
This competition is about one tight, playable core game experience, and Focus is a scored criterion. Keep your prototype contained:
- Single-player. Multiplayer, including asynchronous, is out of scope.
- One fixed portrait orientation, which should not change during play.
- One play session. Judges play a single session, so your prototype does not need to save progress between sessions.
- Simple movement and physics. Ragdoll and physics-driven vehicles add risk without adding to your core loop.
- Simple characters. Bipedal or abstract characters work best; detailed creature animation is not scored.
- Skip dynamic weather and day/night cycles.
Leaderboards, sound effects and music are all fine.
Not sure whether something is in scope? Ask in the competition channel and we will answer.
Do I retain ownership of my prototype and the game I build?
Yes. You retain ownership of the prototype you create and of any game you build on our Early Access creation tools. See the Official Rules for full IP terms.
Will my prototype be used to train AI?
No. We do not use competition submissions to train AI models. You retain full IP ownership of everything you submit. The Official Rules state that "All Entries and Projects remain the intellectual property of the individuals or organizations that developed them."
Will my submission be publicly viewable?
No. Your prototype, build log export, and design-intent document are visible only to judges and are treated as confidential. They are not shown on the public project page on Devpost. Only the "Project Details" section on Devpost is publicly viewable (see below).
What should I put in the "Project Details" section on Devpost?
The "Project Details" section is public, so include only a brief, general description of your game that you’re comfortable sharing. When we announce winners, we may feature excerpts from this description. It is not judged and does not affect your score. Keep your detailed design in the artifacts, which only judges see.
Will the "Project Details" section be judged?
No. Only your prototype build is judged, with the design-intent document as context. The "Project Details" section is not judged and does not affect your score. Keep it to a brief, general description you are comfortable sharing publicly.
Do you have any recommendations on using AI to build my prototype?
There is no required way to build your prototype. Use whatever AI tools and whatever process you like. How you build is not part of the judging criteria.
If it’s useful, we built a prototype and documented how it went, including the prompts we used and the things we got wrong: Building a Prototype with AI: A Case study.
Treat it as one approach among many, not a template. Plenty of strong entries will be built in ways that look nothing like it.
The only things that are actually required are on the submission page and in the Official Rules: a single-player game in fixed portrait, a self-contained build that makes no external network requests, packaged as a single .zip under 35MB with index.html at the top level, plus your design-intent doc and build log.
Eligibility
Do I have to be a member of the Meta Horizon Creator Program (MHCP) to participate?
Yes. To win, you must be a member in good standing of MHCP, reside in an eligible region, and have enrolled in MHCP on or before August 10, 2026.
Did I have to participate in the previous competition for game design to participate in this one?
No. If you participated in the previous competition, you're welcome to use those documents to prototype your game. However, this is not required, you're also free to start over from scratch.
How do I check my MHCP enrollment status?
You have two ways of checking your MHCP enrollment status - Signing into the Official Forums and checking your profile for the role “MHCP Member” or signing into the Developer Dashboard and checking the “Creator Program” tab for the “enrolled” status.
I'm not part of MHCP. What are my options?
You can enroll in MHCP. If you sign up after August 10, 2026 (PT) you will not be eligible for this competition, but you may be eligible for future ones.
How do I know if my region is eligible?
See the eligible regions listed in the Official Rules. Because this competition is AI-native and winners will build on our Early Access creation tools, eligibility is limited to regions where AI-generated content is permitted and where Early Access creation tool access can be provided.
What does "selected creators" mean in the Rules?
"Selected creators" refers to certain countries where general MHCP enrollment is not yet open, but creators can be accepted as MHCP Partners. Partners from those countries are eligible to participate.
Entries
Can I submit a design or game I've entered in another competition, or a game that's already live?
No. Your prototype must be your original work. It may not be a game already published or live on the platform, and it may not replicate an existing game. However, you may build on your prior design from the most recent Meta Horizon Creator Competition: Game Design.
Can I submit more than one entry?
No. Each creator may submit only one entry. However, you are welcome to be a collaborator on an entry that is submitted by another creator.
Can I work on a team?
Yes, collaboration is permitted, but the person who submits acts as the team representative and is the sole recipient of any prize.
What if two people submit very similar prototypes?
If the same prototype is submitted by multiple creators, all duplicates are disqualified except the first received. Shared genre conventions are fine; submitting another creator's work is not.
Can my entry win multiple prizes?
No. An entry can win only one prize.
My idea doesn't fit neatly into one genre. Should I still submit?
Your prototype should deliver the core loop of the genre you select. Fresh takes are welcome, but for this competition, keep the concept close to the core of your chosen genre. That is what judges evaluate against, and it is what will translate best when you rebuild on our Early Access creation tools.
What to Submit
What should I submit for this competition?
Three things:
- Playable prototype build: Playable prototype build: a self-contained Three.js / HTML5 build, submitted as a single bundle (.zip), no larger than 35MB, with index.html at the top level of the .zip. All libraries, assets and dependencies must be inside the .zip and referenced with relative paths. Builds that need internet access will fail validation. This is the primary source judges evaluate.
- Design-intent document: 500 words max, .docx, text only, in English using the provided template (fixed sections): who the players are, what the game is, what the prototype contains, and your future-state vision. It must not include your name or other identifying information. Judges read it as context for playing your prototype; it is not itself ranked.
- Build log: a running record you keep as you build, covering the decisions you lock and what happens each session, submitted as a single document (Markdown format). It shows your prototype was built with AI. Required, but not scored.
Can I use Unity, Godot, or another game engine's web export?
Only if the game code ends up in index.html, unminified and readable. That is what decides usability of the web export , and the reason is that the code is read as part of the evaluation.
Engines that compile your game into WebAssembly leave index.html as a loader with the game in a compiled binary, so it is illegible and the entry will not qualify. Unity WebGL works this way. An off-the-shelf library you did not write that happens to ship as WebAssembly is fine, as long as it sits in your vendor folder and the code is still readable in index.html.
If you are unsure about a specific tool, unzip your build, open index.html, and check the code is in there and you can read it. If you want us to confirm before you start, ask us via the competition page or the competition channel.
What does "genuinely playable" mean?
A judge must be able to actually play your prototype: a working core loop with real-time response to input, a clear goal and a win/lose/reset state, and some form of progression, playable start to finish and repeatable. Static mockups, click-through screens, slide decks, and video-only submissions do not qualify and will be disqualified.
Do I have to build my prototype with AI?
Yes. This is an AI-native competition, so your prototype must be built using AI tools (prompt-based building), and you must submit your build log with your entry. Minor manual edits to fix bugs or tune your build are fine. Judges evaluate the prototype itself, not the specific tools you used. Your art and assets are not required to be AI created, you may use any art, models, or assets you have rights to.
Is there a template?
Yes, for the design-intent document: a fixed-section template will be provided on the competition site, and you must use it. The prototype build and build log do not use a template.
Is there design guidance?
Yes. See the Design Guidance section on the competition site for genre details and tips.
How do I submit my entry?
Register on Devpost via the competition page and click "Join hackathon," then complete all required fields on the "Start project" page during the submission window (August 17 to September 8), and upload your required artifacts.
What information do I include in my Devpost entry?
- Game title
- Horizon username of the submitter
- Genre selection
- Your prototype build (bundle, no larger than 35MB), design-intent document, and build log
- A brief public description of your game concept (2 to 3 sentences) in "Project Details"
Can I update my entry after I submit?
Yes. You can edit and resubmit as many times as you like before the deadline. Only your most recent submission is judged.
Can I start before the submission window opens?
Yes. You can begin building as soon as you register (August 10). The submission portal opens August 17. We encourage you to use the time to attend MHCP programming and develop your prototype.
Is there any advantage to building a 2D, 2.5D, or 3D prototype?
No. There is no advantage to any of these. Three.js and HTML5 support all of them, so build whatever best delivers your core loop. Judges evaluate playability, fun, and design, not dimensionality.
Do I need to submit a gameplay video?
No. A gameplay video is not required and is not part of judging. Judges play your prototype directly. If the Devpost submission form includes a video field, you can leave it blank; it will not be used to evaluate your entry.
Can I use pre-made assets or asset libraries in my prototype?
Yes, as long as you have the rights to use them and your prototype is your own original work (see the Official Rules on originality). Any assets you use must be downloaded into your project folder and included in your .zip, not linked from the internet. AI is not required for your visual assets.
Does it matter how my files are organised inside the .zip?
Yes, and it affects how your prototype is evaluated. Your .zip should look
like this:
index.html : your whole game, readable. Must be at the top level of the zip
vendor/ : your libraries. Must be this folder name
everything else : images, audio, fonts, data. Name and organize these however you like
Three things to get right:
- All of your game code goes in index.html. Develop across as many source files as you like, then add a build step that assembles them into a single index.html before you submit. Your AI can set this up in about a minute, and it is worth doing on day one.
- Do not minify it. Part of the evaluation reads your code, so all of the game code has to be in index.html in a form a person can read and follow. It does not matter what tool produced it: TypeScript, a build step or anything else is fine as long as what you submit is readable JavaScript. If your build tool minifies by default, turn that off.
- Libraries go in vendor, not in index.html. Download Three.js, or anything else you use, into a vendor folder and reference it with a relative path.
Two things that catch people out. index.html must be at the top level of the .zip, not inside a folder. And if you change your source after building, rebuild before you zip, or you will submit an older version of your game.
Can I build more than one core experience?
Yes. One is the minimum, not the maximum. Get one core experience genuinely working first, because that is what Player Engagement, Playability and Core Loop Design all measure. Once it works, adding real depth, a longer arc or a fresh twist will score higher, not lower. What will not help is spreading your prototype across several shallow experiences instead of one that plays well.
How long should the design-intent document be, and can I use a smaller font to fit more in?
Keep it to 500 words maximum and use the provided template as-is. The word limit is what counts, so changing the font will not get you more in. The document only gives judges context on your prototype; it is not scored, so keep it short and clear. Your prototype is what matters.
What file formats should I use?
- Prototype build: a self-contained Three.js/HTML5 bundle, submitted as a single file (.zip), no larger than 35MB, with index.html at the top level and all libraries and assets bundled inside.
- Design-intent document: 500 words max, .docx, using the provided template.
- Build log: a single Markdown (.md) document.
Even if the Devpost form accepts other file types, the Official Rules take priority.
The Reward: Cash Prize + Completion Grant
How does the reward work?
Each award has two parts: (a) a cash prize, paid after winners are announced; and (b) a completion grant, paid when you deliver a rebuilt version of your winning prototype as a playable game on our Early Access creation tools. The amounts published per category are the total award (cash prize plus completion grant).
Why is part of the award a grant to rebuild on the Early Access creation tools?
The prototype proves your idea is fun and playable. The completion grant supports you in bringing that idea onto our platform by rebuilding it on our Early Access creation tools, so your winning concept becomes a real game players can experience.
How long do I have to rebuild on the Early Access creation tools?
Eight calendar weeks. We will notify you via email when the rebuild window starts, and we aim to onboard you promptly. Any early access you receive or currently have before the provided date, for testing or research, does not start your rebuild window. If we are not able to onboard you when winners are announced, your access and the rebuild window are both deferred until we can, and your cash prize is unaffected. We may adjust the length of the rebuild window based on platform readiness; see Official Rules.
When will I receive the grant payout?
The completion grant is paid upon delivering a build that meets an objective completion checklist (does it run, does it implement your core loop, etc.). If your first build does not meet the objective completion checklist, you can resubmit, but the resubmission has to reach us before the rebuild window closes. For more information, see Official Rules.
Do I need access to Early Access creation tools in order to enter?
No. You build your prototype off-platform with AI tools to enter. Early Access creation tool access is provided to winners only for the rebuild step.
Judging & Prizes
How will winners be determined?
Two stages. First, an AI-assisted ranking evaluates the submitted builds. Then, a panel of expert judges plays the shortlisted prototypes and decides the winners. Full criteria are on the Official Rules page.
What are the judging criteria?
- Player Engagement (30%): is it compelling; would a player keep going and come back?
- Playability (25%): does it work: respond to input, run cleanly, complete the core loop?
- Core Loop Design (20%): is the core loop clear, coherent, and well-constructed?
- Focus (15%): is it a tight, contained single-loop experience rather than an over-scoped sprawl?
- Originality (10%): a fresh, creative take within the chosen genre (visual polish is intentionally not scored).
When will winners be announced?
On or after October 9, 2026. Winners are notified directly via email and/or the MHCP Discord, and results are posted in the MHCP community and on the competition site.
How will I receive my prize money?
Payments are processed through a third-party vendor. Winners receive claim instructions via email after the announcement. The cash prize is paid first; the completion grant is paid upon delivery of your build on the Early Access creation tools.
Is my prototype judged on visual polish?
No. Judges evaluate whether it is fun, playable, and well-designed. Placeholder or simple art is expected. Visual polish is explicitly not scored.
Support
Is there programming to support me during the competition?
Yes. We will run MHCP programming throughout, including mentor-led build-alongs, office hours, and AI creation-skills sessions. The schedule will be posted in the Events Calendar.
Where can I ask questions during the competition?
If you're a Partner with access to the Discord, you can post in the competition channel. Otherwise, anyone can reach out via email on the Devpost competition page, post on the forums, or check the FAQ for updates.