YGG Play and Verse8 look for next degen casual hit with BuidlHack 2026 hackathon
Following the success of its LOL Land game, which generated over $8 million in revenue in 2026, YGG Play is looking for the next wave of casual degen web3 games.
These are experiences that feature simple one-button mechanics, combined with deep economic loops and a balance of skill and luck.
In addition to its commercial publishing activity with professional developers, including the likes of Delabs Games, YGG Play has now partnered with AI game-making platform Verse8, which recently announced a $5 million seed round.
The two companies are running a hackathon during Korea BUIDL Week. The hackathon will kick off with a Builders Day on the 14th April, with submissions due by 17th April, and the final pitch and project showcase running on April 18th.
International participants may pitch online, but teams located in South Korea must send at least one member to pitch in person.
The most promising projects will be plugged into Verse8’s investment network, while YGG Play will consider them for publishing, including gaining access to its player acquisition network, web3 infrastructure, and global community distribution. There will also be $5,000 in prizes and $5,000-worth of Verse8 token credits distributed to the winners.
“South Korea is one of the only places where crypto and gaming culture are actually mainstream, with nearly a third of the population active in the market,” said Gabby Dizon, co-founder of Yield Guild Games.
“With thousands of PC bangs that serve as social hubs and their history of pioneering esports, Seoul is the natural place to continue building the casual segen category. We’re looking for those builders who can take their ideas and turn them into a sustainable business with real revenue.”
You can participate in the hackathon by:
- Create a casual segen game using the Verse8 platform at create.verse8.io.
- Publish the game using the #YGG tag.
- Submit the project through the YGG & Verse8 track via Ludium.
- All participants must submit their entries by April 17, 2026, 11:59 PM KST.
