Service and data provider AT&T is launching its own Unlocked game-making contest, calling for women game developers and female-led game studios to participate and showcase their talent.
Announced via press release, AT&T’s Unlocked Games competition starts from September 30 to October 26 and opens the door for game pitches from women developers. Six qualifying projects would later be given an opportunity for teams to livestream a “development pitch.” The winning team receives $50,000 to finish their game, support from AT&T and exposure in the game industry.
According to AT&T, less than a quarter of respondents in a survey identified as female game developers in the U.S. while making up for almost half of the country’s player population. The Unlocked Games challenge hopes to give women developers a bigger, direct starting point while bringing a game into the AAA spotlight.
“As an active member of this industry, we saw an opportunity to not only support underrepresented developers but help bring their games and stories to life through our position as an endemic brand in the gaming space,” said AT&T experimental marketing VP Shiz Suzuki.
AT&T has made its own place in the gaming world through an ownership of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and WB Games, supporting in the development for franchises including Harry Potter, Batman, The Lord of the Rings and Mortal Kombat. The studio had recently been open for a third-party company acquisition until AT&T decided to keep it.
It’s unknown if the winning developers from Unlocked Games would be connected with support from WB Games for their projects, as they also travel to Dreamhack 2021 to discuss their games in a, “dedicated activation.” They will also be given a lifetime membership and mentorship with the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) and receive &3000 in credit for AT&T’s services.
Helping AT&T with promotion and submissions are the Society of Women Engineers and Women Who Code organizations, all calling for women developers in the U.S. to kickstart their projects and send them through their page until October 26, 2020.
