Submissions open from 2026-01-09 23:30:00 to 2026-01-12 00:00:00
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Indie Game Academy (IGA) and Xsolla are teaming up for a fast, practical challenge!

Since the Epic v. Apple ruling earlier this year, mobile game developers in the US are now able to direct users to alternative payment methods! This is major news as developers don’t need to give up to 30% of their earnings to Apple going forward. Many devs don’t know that alternatives already exist. With Xsolla Web Shop, developers only need to pay 5% in transaction fees. Plus it’s customizable and easy to integrate within your game!

To celebrate this new opportunity, we’ve teamed up with Xsolla to host a competition that will be live for 48 hours. To enter, all you need to do is create a Web Shop for your game. This takes 10-15 minutes max. 

One winner will be peer-selected to win $500 courtesy of Xsolla! 🏆

Dates 📅

Jan. 9  6:30pm EST  | Kickoff hosted by IGA (30 Min) and Jam Submissions Open

Jan. 11 7:00pm EST | Jam Submissions Close

Jan. 16    | Winners Announced

If you’re seeing a different timezone on itch.io, follow the time shown at the top of this jam page.

The Challenge ✨

Create a working Xsolla Web Shop for your game and submit:

  1. Your project submission on itch.io (a playable build, demo, or interactive showcase)
  2. Proof of your Xsolla Web Shop (see “Submission Requirements” below)

Your shop can be for a real released game, a prototype, or a jam project — as long as it’s functional.

Submission Requirements (read carefully) ✅

Your submission must include:

  • A link to your Xsolla Web Shop 
  • At least one screenshot showing the shop and an example item/bundle
  • A short description (3–8 sentences) covering:
    • What you’re selling (currency, items, bundles, etc.)
    • Who it’s for (player segment / game context)
    • One monetization idea you’d try long-term

Important: To be eligible for prizes, the winner must have a functional Xsolla Web Shop. IGA will verify the winning entry before prizes are awarded.

How Judging Works (Peer Voting) 🗳️

This is a judged competition, not a random sweepstakes.

  • Voting/Judging is done by contestants only using itch.io’s jam judging system.
  • After submissions close, you’ll be able to score other entries on the criteria below.
  • Winners will be announced after judging + verification are complete.

Judging Criteria 👩‍⚖️

Contestants will score each entry on:

1. Connectivity - Integration of game and Xsolla webshop

2. Aesthetics - Presentation of Xsolla webshop page 

3. Comprehension -  How clearly does the submission describe the product offering, target audience, and proposed long-term monetization approach?

Prize Pool 🏆

Total prize pool: $500 for top submission (provided by Xsolla)

Resources (Xsolla Tutorials)  📖

Use these to get started:

Community + Support 🤝

We’ll be hosting this alongside the Indie Game Academy community on Discord, including a short kickoff to help you get oriented and answer common questions. IGA will do our best to answer questions but are not an authority on product.

If you get stuck:

Rules / Eligibility 📃

  • You must follow itch.io’s rules and community guidelines.
  • You must submit within the jam window.
  • To win a prize, your entry must include proof of a functional Xsolla Web Shop.
  • If you collaborate, list all team members on the submission.
  • Don’t submit stolen work/assets you don’t have rights to use.

FAQ ❓

Do I need a finished game?
No — prototypes are fine. The focus is the Web Shop setup and how you present it.

Can I use an existing project?
Yes. Just be clear what you changed or set up during the challenge window.

What if my shop is for a mobile game?
That’s welcome — just make sure your submission clearly shows the shop working and what it connects to.