Checkpoint Game Jam registration is open to game developers in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, and the jam officially starts with a kickoff livestream on October 15 at 10 a.m. (UTC+8). Four to five finalist teams will be invited to Tokyo in February 2027 to pitch their games in person, with travel and accommodation covered for one representative per team.
Checkpoint Game Jam Registration at a Glance
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Who can join | Developers in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, plus teams from elsewhere when at least half the team comes from those four countries |
| Age requirement | 18 or older as of October 31, 2026 |
| Team size | Solo developers, studios, and teams of any size can enter |
| Format | Fully virtual, with games submitted on itch.io |
| First deadline | October 31 at 11:59 p.m. Anywhere on Earth time |
| Finals trip | Travel and accommodation to Tokyo are covered for one representative from each finalist team, during the week of February 15, 2027 |
| Where to register | checkpointgamejam.org |
How Checkpoint Game Jam Registration Works
Joining takes three steps.
- Every member of your team fills out the registration form linked on the official Checkpoint Game Jam website, since each jammer has to register individually.
- Build your game during the jam, and use the Global Game Jam Discord or the itch.io community board if you are looking for teammates.
- Have one team member submit the game on the Checkpoint Game Jam page on itch.io before the October 31 deadline, because late submissions are not accepted, and that person will also receive the email if your team reaches the top 20.
Anyone who misses the kickoff can still join as long as the submission window is open.
Checkpoint Game Jam Schedule
| Dates | Stage | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| October 5 to 14 | Pre-jam prep | Recorded expert webinars, a resource library, and a tips and tricks guide are available, and using them is optional |
| October 15, 10 a.m. (UTC+8) | Kickoff livestream | The theme, award categories, and scoring rubric are announced |
| October 15 to 16 | Two-day sprint | Teams create a game concept brief |
| October 17 to 31 | Two-week build | Teams build a prototype and a two-minute trailer, with submissions due October 31 at 11:59 p.m. Anywhere on Earth time |
| November 1 to 10 | First-round judging | A global panel of judges selects the top 20 teams |
| By November 13 | Top 20 notified | Selected teams are told by email |
| November 15 to January 10 | Two-month jam | The top 20 teams refine their games into polished, playable prototypes with mentor support |
| January 11 to 18 | Second-round judging | Judges select the Tokyo finalists and the other award winners |
| By January 19 | Finalists notified | Finalists and award winners are told of their selection |
| Week of February 15, 2027 | Tokyo finals | Four to five teams pitch in person, and the exact dates are still to be confirmed |
The organizers anticipate at least one finalist from each of the four countries, although they can reassign a spot if a country has no team that meets the minimum score.
Who Can Join Checkpoint Game Jam
- Developers in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore can enter, and developers from elsewhere can join a team as long as at least half of that team comes from those four countries.
- Developers who do not meet the regional requirement can email the organizers to be considered case by case.
- Every jammer must be at least 18 years old as of October 31, 2026, and the organizers will ask the top 20 teams for proof of age.
- Previous experience with Global Game Jam is not required.
Theme and Rules
The jam focuses on preventing violent extremism, which the organizers abbreviate as PVE, by challenging developers to build games that promote pro-social behavior and digital resilience among young people, including resilience to harmful influences such as misogyny, racism, and hate speech. Because PVE usually makes game developers think of player versus environment, the organizers have published recorded webinars, a resource library, and a Play to Prevent tips and tricks guide with a worksheet for aligning a team’s ideas with the jam’s goals. The official theme and award categories will be announced at the October 15 kickoff, and the prize pool is still being finalized.
- Teams can enter an existing project as long as it has never been submitted to another jam or released publicly in any form, and it must include a substantial new feature or system built during the jam.
- Generative AI tools are allowed when they are disclosed in the submission.
- Creators keep full ownership of their games.
- Games cannot use United Nations names, logos, or branding, and they cannot present themselves as official United Nations games.
The jam is part of the Checkpoint Reached Project, which is implemented by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) in coordination with Global Game Jam.
Developers interested in joining can register through the official Checkpoint Game Jam site.
Checkpoint Game Jam FAQ
Checkpoint Game Jam is a virtual, multi-stage game jam where developers in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore design games that promote pro-social behavior and help prevent violent extremism.
Every jammer completes the registration form linked on checkpointgamejam.org, and the finished game is then submitted on the jam’s itch.io page.
The jam starts with a kickoff livestream on October 15 at 10 a.m. (UTC+8), and the first submission deadline is October 31 at 11:59 p.m. Anywhere on Earth time.
Developers in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore who are 18 or older can join, and teams from outside the region are welcome when at least half the team comes from those four countries.
Yes, solo developers can enter, and you can also use the jam Discord or the itch.io community board to find teammates.
The final pitch event will be held in person in Tokyo during the week of February 15, 2027, and the organizers cover travel and accommodation for one representative from each selected team, while other team members can attend at their own expense with advance notice.
Yes, AI tools are allowed as long as you disclose which ones you used when you submit your game.
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