North American esports powerhouse Cloud9 has teamed up with JetBrains, a leader in software development tools, to create an exciting esports hackathon. This collaborative event aims to inspire innovation by utilizing data from popular games such as League of Legends and VALORANT, provided by GRID, the official data partner of major esports tours. Participants are invited to push the boundaries of competitive gaming by entering one of four intriguing categories.
Cloud9 and JetBrains have launched an esports hackathon, inviting participants to create tools using League of Legends and VALORANT data.
Exciting Categories and Prizes
The hackathon presents a variety of categories, including developing an assistant coach and crafting an event minigame. Participants have the chance to earn impressive awards, such as an all-expenses-paid trip to the esteemed Game Developer Conference (GDC), a JetBrains software subscription for a year, and cash prizes starting at $4,000. Additional accolades are available for the best video submission, most valuable feedback, and superior blog post.
Innovation in Esports
According to a blog post by JetBrains, the rapidly evolving esports landscape benefits significantly from advanced tools that enhance team performance and fan engagement. The hackathon encourages participants to bring their creative ideas to life, focusing on analytics and enhancing the fan experience.
Timeline and Registration Details
Registrations for the “Sky’s The Limit” hackathon commenced on December 9th, 2025, with project submissions due by February 3rd, 2026. A panel of judges will evaluate the entries between February 10th and 24th, with winners announced in early March. JetBrains’ entry into esports began with a partnership with Cloud9 in late October, marking a strategic effort to support the esports community through innovative content and AI-powered tools.