TikTok has become one of the hottest social media platforms in recent years. The clip-based short format video sharing service has become ubiquitous with currents trends of pop culture and young people everywhere, with the platform continuing to expand in popularity. Building on its success, TikTok is on the hunt to find the next big gaming industry star.
While TikTok is known to have spawned content creators of its own, this is one of the first formal talent searches the app has done. The contest is called "Gamers Got Talent," which presumably is a play on words for popular NBC television series America's Got Talent, except this contest will focus on skills related to video games.
According to details on the official contest website, the Gamers Got Talent contest will unfold over the course of seven weeks, with the goal of finding "hidden talent" within the gaming community. The contest is vague when it comes to describing exactly what TikTok is looking for, but it does mention the judging panel is looking for the "best and most entertaining" talents out there, so an impressive feat that can be shown in a relatively short amount of time would probably be optimal.
In fact, the talent doesn't necessarily even have to do anything with gaming, according to TikTok Marketing Director Nadia Niccoli. Niccoli stated "guitar riffs to trick shots to cooking and everything in-between" are suitable submissions.
The weekly rotating judge panel, comprised of famous TikTokers and veteran gamers, will help determine which Gamers Got Talent submissions have "what it takes." Those selected to move on will then perform during a live grand finale episode on June 20 to compete for a prize pool of $25,000, which will also include prizes from sponsors Luminosity Gaming and e.l.f. Cosmetics.
All contest entrants must be at least 18 years of age, and live in either the United States or Canada. The Gamers Got Talent competition's generous prize pool is sure to be publicly received better than GameStop's notorious TikTok dance competition last fall, which had its employees competing to earn more work hours.
When people think of social gaming mediums, platforms like Twitch, Discord, and YouTube come to mind. However, TikTok, or at least its parent company Bytedance, is looking to add its presence to the gaming industry in a big way. A little over a month ago, Bytedance acquired mobile game developer Moonton. The owners behind the popular Mobile Legends franchise, unnamed sources reportedly told Reuters that the deal between ByteDance and Moonton was valued at $4 billion, making it the fourth-largest acquisition in the history of the video game industry.
The entry window for this run of the contest has unfortunately closed already, running from April 27 to May 2, but those interested can search TikTok using the hashtag #TikTokGGT. Fortunately, there's another, easier, competition still going on, as Totino's is giving away a Nintendo Switch.