https://www.scedev.net/academic_program.html
I think, PS4 only accepts students from “selected university/academies”
I also think that Epic does request a gameplay, videos and they even want to test the build Publish Apps, Games and Software on the Epic Games Store. not sure If Epic allows brand new indie developers to release their games in the Epic Store, which is why Microsoft barely has Indie developers and their store is not interesting at all… because Microsoft request you to be a member of a company or have an established studio in order to be partner with you, even if they say they accept indies; that’s why Steam/Valve does releases so many games per day, because you only need to pay $100 and that’s it, you don’t even need a EIN or a VAT or any taxes ID, they discount taxes and then they pay you, anybody can release a game on Steam in just a few days (after approved, they do request 2 weeks prior to release), it is so easy… they even have student school projects with unfinished games.
I´m not sure If the Epic Store has such flexibility right now, that’s the only way to incentive developers really, Epic only needs to test that their indie games are not horrible, and if they were as flexible, I’ll run to the Epic Store, just because Steam doesn’t care for Indies at all… their logarithm sinks your games right to the bottom in seconds, Steam keys are horrible because it allows piracy sites to resell your games in .10 cents and piracy sites get your games the same day of their release, because Steam DRM security is as bad as it can be, and there is actually a real market of people (collectors) who love to play new games, they want to be the first to make a youtube video, its just that Steam puts those games on the bottom from start.
I hope the Epic Store becomes as flexible with Indie developers from all over the world, they only need to test that their new games are cool, not school projects, I think Minecraft was developed by 1 person.