Epic Games has backtracked on one of the more controversial details of its upcoming Epic AI MegaJam. The Unreal Engine game jam’s FAQ originally said entrants had to use AI tools. After a wave of criticism, Epic now says that was an error.
“Our FAQ originally said you had to use AI for the MegaJam,” the company posted on X. “That’s our mistake. You can use as little or as much AI as you want. We’re updating the FAQ and rules to make that clear.”
How the jam works
According to the event announcement, the theme will be revealed on November 11. Solo developers and teams will then have from November 12 to 15 to build their games. Some participants will work in person at an event space in San Francisco, and Epic plans daily livestreams with progress updates.
As PC Gamer reports, winners in three main categories will each receive $7,500, with smaller prizes for second and third place and extra categories such as best team. Epic is also offering development continuation grants of up to $50,000 per team.
Why people pushed back
The promotion leaned hard into AI from the start. Epic used a riff on The Matrix’s red pill scene, pitching AI-assisted development as a way to “ship awesome games in a weekend” instead of waiting months to prototype. The hand holding out the pill had an extra finger, a nod to a common flaw in AI image generators.
For many developers, a contest that seemed to require AI felt like a step too far, especially at a time when art contests and festivals are banning AI-made work. Making AI optional takes the sharpest edge off, though the event is still built around AI tools.
The jam fits a clear direction at Epic. CEO Tim Sweeney recently said AI will bring a golden age of gaming, and just last week Epic described its new Epic Games Store launcher as “vibe coded.”
