We recently made adjustments to Epic’s Picks in v36.30, and we heard that you had some questions. We want to share more information on the changes to Epic’s Picks documentation and clarify what you can expect moving forward.
New Quality Bar
With the increased visibility of Epic’s Picks, we’ve raised the expectations for which islands are accepted as part of our selection criteria. Our hope is that this will result in greater consistency, improved quality, and will better align with the long-term goals for the program.
More information on our selection criteria can be found here:
Resubmission Rules
We’re also making tweaks to the reapplication process. Here’s what you need to know:
- Islands that applied on or before July 16, 2025, and were rejected can reapply at any time.
- We’re giving applicants time to improve their submissions to increase their chances of being accepted. - Islands that applied after July 16, 2025, will be subject to a one-month cooldown from the date of submission before reapplying and will be automatically rejected during this period, per the new guidelines.
- We recognize it takes time to hear back on your application. To help keep the queue manageable, this cooldown period is intended to improve turnaround times and set new standards for our response time.
Improved Response Time
In the coming weeks, we’ll be making additional adjustments to our review pipeline. During this process, we’ll evaluate the average turnaround times so we can be more clear so that you remain informed throughout this process. Starting September 1, 2025, we plan to send acceptance or rejection emails to applicants within 30 days of submission.
Tips For a Strong Application
Above all, make sure your application is complete and clearly explains how your island meets the new quality bar. Incomplete applications may be rejected without full review — remember, your application is the first impression, so make it count.
We also highly recommend including the following:
- A fly-through video showing off your environment and map design.
- Gameplay footage highlighting the unique features and fun, innovative elements of your island.
- A trailer video that captures the island’s core appeal.
- A description that clearly demonstrates what makes your island stand out.
We’re excited to continue enhancing Epic’s Picks to highlight some of the most interesting and enjoyable islands around.
For more information, please check out the updated Epic’s Picks documentation: