I know, I know—this news might not apply to many of you since it’s exclusive to Japan. But hear me out: Capcom’s new Capcom Games Competition is an idea so cool that I wish it were happening worldwide—yes, including right here in Malaysia. This initiative isn’t just about making games; it’s about fostering new talent, pushing creative boundaries, and showing how gaming companies can invest in the industry’s future.

Capcom’s half-year-long contest invites students in Japan to form teams of up to 20 and use the company’s RE ENGINE in a cloud-based environment to build a game from the ground up. Teams take on roles mirroring actual game development jobs, while professional Capcom developers mentor them through the process. For winning teams, there’s a huge bonus—support for the potential commercialisation of their games. Plus, participants retain full ownership and copyright of their projects.

Capcom says this competition is part of its broader mission to strengthen the gaming industry and uphold corporate social responsibility. The company is committed to rolling out similar initiatives in the future, and honestly, more gaming giants should follow their lead.

Applications are open from 9 December 2024 to 17 January 2025, and students aged 18 and above who are enrolled in universities, graduate schools, or vocational colleges in Japan are eligible to join. Interested? You can find the application form here or linked below.

• https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeGy9SHU1rK_0my_bOUx_lLIGdd0J19MPrMq4sBFwU6XJHzsg/viewform