TL;DR
- Avalanche launched a $1M, six-week competition for game developers.
- The “Build Games” event emphasizes working prototypes over short hackathons.
- Winners receive cash prizes and long-term ecosystem support.
On January 20, 2026, Avalanche launched a global developer competition. The event will run for six weeks and features a $1 million prize pool. Its goal is to accelerate the development of on-chain gaming and consumer products on the Avalanche network.
The program specifically targets crypto-native development teams. It emphasizes sustained product delivery rather than short-term hackathon output. This initiative aims to move projects from concept to functional prototype.
Participants will receive mentorship, workshops, and direct ecosystem support throughout the competition. Avalanche designed the program to provide this comprehensive guidance.
Format, support and participation
Named “Build Games,” the competition began on 20/01/2026 and will run through 13/02/2026. Teams started by submitting a short pitch video explaining their idea, the problem addressed and team composition. As the event proceeds, participants will access structured workshops, dedicated office hours, mentorship and a global builder community intended to support execution and product refinement.
Organizers set staged delivery expectations: at the midpoint teams are expected to present a working prototype or minimum viable product with demo and supporting code, and the final phase culminates in a live showcase before a judging panel. Applications opened with the launch and are being evaluated on a rolling basis; participation is capped, and teams must apply through the official portal at build.avax.network/build-games.
Prizes, incentives and long-term support
The $1M pool is allocated across ranked and category awards to reward product maturity and market-readiness, rather than novelty alone. Avalanche said the competition will complement its existing grants and ecosystem programs to support follow‑on development.
- Grand prize: $100.000
- Runner-up: $75.000
- Third place: $50.000
- Category awards: $5.000–$40.000
“The core mission is to cultivate new products and consumer gaming applications on the Avalanche platform,” Avalanche said in its announcement, framing the competition as a vehicle to attract a more dedicated cohort of builders.
The organizers emphasize that the program is not a one-off cash incentive: top teams can expect additional grants and ecosystem support aimed at sustaining development beyond the contest period.
For investors, product leads and compliance teams, the competition signals Avalanche’s continued focus on developer acquisition and consumer-facing use cases. The emphasis on working prototypes and go-to-market planning raises the likelihood that winners will seek integrations, listings or partnerships that require clearer operational and compliance arrangements.
Investors and ecosystem observers are likely to watch the live showcase on 13/02/2026 as the practical test of the program’s thesis: whether a structured, six-week format produces durable projects that can attract users, liquidity and follow-on funding.
