VIVERSE Spark returns November 9 - December 4, inviting university students worldwide to build games and compete for cash prizes
VIVERSE, the web-based game distribution platform from HTC, today announced the return of its global university hackathon, VIVERSE Spark. Running from November 9 through December 4, 2026, the competition invites university students around the world to bring their creative visions to life by building games and interactive experiences, with cash prizes available to winning teams.
Building on the 2025 competition, VIVERSE Spark 2026 challenges students to build web-based interactive content across three submission categories: Games, Immersive Storytelling, and Social Experiences. Through hands-on experience with 3D content creation, students can develop practical skills, showcase their creativity, and prepare for career opportunities in game development, digital media, and immersive technology.
As a web-based platform, VIVERSE makes interactive content distribution accessible to students with a wide range of technical backgrounds and experience levels. It supports all major WebXR supported engines, including Unity WebGL, Godot, Three.js, Babylon.js, React Three Fiber, Wonderland Engine, and A-Frame. Games created in VIVERSE can be easily accessed through web browsers on PCs, smartphones, tablets, and XR headsets, without requiring software installations.
“VIVERSE Spark is about giving students the freedom to experiment, collaborate, and turn their ideas into experiences that anyone worldwide can enjoy from their web browser,” said Andranik Aslanyan, Head of Growth at VIVERSE. “We saw a lot of creativity in our first university hackathon last year. We look forward to welcoming a new wave of student creators and giving them the opportunity to develop valuable career skills, build a portfolio, and win prizes.”
Students can participate in teams of one to five members from the same university, with multiple teams permitted from each institution. Entries will be evaluated on creativity, scene design, technical competency, user experience, and user engagement.
The competition runs from November 9 to December 4, 2026, followed by judging from December 7 to December 18. Winners will be announced early January 2027.
To learn more about VIVERSE Spark 2026 and register to participate, visit the competition website. Students and universities interested in participating can also contact viversespark@htc.com or join the VIVERSE Discord server.
Follow VIVERSE's social channels for the latest hackathon updates and announcements:
X: VIVERSE Official (@VIVERSEofficial) on X
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/viverseofficial/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/viverse/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VIVERSEOfficial
About VIVERSE
VIVERSE is a web-based game and content platform where players can jump into thousands of titles instantly across desktop, mobile, and VR. It’s also an open space for creators and businesses to build and share their own 3D experiences, from games to custom branded environments. Visit the VIVERSE website at www.viverse.com to learn more.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261110531562/en/
“VIVERSE Spark is about giving students the freedom to experiment, collaborate, and turn their ideas into experiences that anyone worldwide can enjoy from their web browser.” - Andranik Aslanyan, Head of Growth, VIVERSE
