The Collegiate Games Challenge is a national student invitational designed to empower the next generation of creative leaders in the video game industry. The challenge invites students from leading universities across the United States to compete for up to $90,000 in prizes.

• Rules Announced: May 1
• Submissions Open: June 1
• Submission Deadline: June 15
• Finalists Announced: July
• Winners Announced: August

Interactive Category: Video Game Projects

Honoring excellence in student-led game development, this track invites top university game programs to submit original student video games that showcase creative design, technical innovation, and compelling interactive experiences.

Business Category: Go-To-Market Plans

Highlighting excellence in game marketing strategy and commercial planning, this track challenges graduate-level business students to create a comprehensive Go-To-Market (GTM) plan for one of four major upcoming video game releases.

Cinematic Category: Video Game Trailers

Showcases excellence in visual storytelling, game marketing, and promotional creativity, this track invites students to produce compelling video game trailers—whether through live action, CGI, gameplay capture, or a hybrid approach—that demonstrate both creative flair and strategic communication.

Invited Universities

We are inviting the following universities to participate in the inaugural invitational:

• DePaul University

• Indiana University

• Michigan State University

• Northwestern University

• Occidental College

• Penn State University

• Purdue University

• Rutgers University

• The Ohio State University

• The University of Iowa

• University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

• University of Illinois

• University of Maryland

• University of Michigan

• University of Minnesota Twin Cities

• University of Nebraska-Lincoln

• University of Oregon

• University of Southern California (USC)

• University of Washington

• University of Wisconsin-Madison

General Eligibility

• Open to students enrolled in invited universities listed under the Collegiate Games Challenge program.

• Each invited university may submit up to two projects for each category.

• Internal school selection is required.

• Submissions may be from individuals or teams. Collaboration beyond individual programs is encouraged and the submitting lead student will indicate which school the submission is from.

• The submitting lead student needs to be a U.S. resident for tax purposes and enrolled in their participating school during the 2024-25 school year.

• Submissions require a supporting school professor, established as the faculty point-of-contact (FPOC). Entries will be validated by the supporting school professor. See collegiategameschallenge.com/faculty for confirmed FPOC.

Please see the specific category’s rules for the full eligibility details.

Entry Fees

No entry fees are required for participation.