The Most Worthwhile Art Competition in 2025: $120,000 Prize Pool Up for Grabs

With the biggest minds in the world of gaming and artistic technology such as PUBG Mobile, Ptopia Design Project (PDP), and XPPen, every art creator can now take their next stepping stone towards achieving their dream and talent! Participating in this art competition will be your chance to show off what your creative minds are capable of.

You will also have the chance to win a share of the $120,000 prize pool, earn cool gadgets like the Artist Pro 24 (Gen2) Drawing Display, and even have your work be placed in the game! Even if you don’t get the top prize, it's one of the best places to display your passion and commitment to art. Join now before it's too late!

About the Art Competition

To celebrate the 20th anniversary, XPPen is partnering with PUBG MOBILE, the globally renowned mobile game, to launch the Ultimate Set Design Contest, creating an exciting opportunity for creators worldwide.

According to PUBG MOBILE PDP, the Ultimate Set that wins should have the best appeal, be ready for use, and be easy to change so it can fit the game. To give you a clearer picture of what you can create, let’s take a look at the themes below.

Contest Theme

Building on the popular themes of "Festival" and "Classic," this year's contest introduces a brand-new theme—"Future Era," exclusively co-created by PUBG MOBILE × XPPen!

1. Future Era

You need to create tech and space related designs with the following concepts:

• Mech Warriors - high-tech armors and weaponry, glowing cores, and futuristic suits.

• Time Travel - different styles during all of humanity’s eras.

• Tech Superpower - bringing abilities into life visually with any technological manipulation of visuals.

• Interstellar Travel - cosmic explorer armors, starlights, and galactic suits and gears.

2. Festival

The participants will have the following festive inspirations to draw from:

• Halloween - you can think of any eerie genre of your visuals, with dark elegance for the overall balance.

• April Fools' Day - go humorous and witty to create funny and unpredictable designs.

• Valentine’s Day - work with charm, love, and heartwarming set designs for a Hearts’ Day festive.

• Christmas - spread magical winter vibes on the stage and turn the concept into a whole cozy spirit.

• Chinese New Year - join in with cultural patterns and embed rich color traditions that screams holidays.

3. Classic

The following themes can inspire you to ideate more familiar designs:

• Clown - entertain with exaggerated features, colorful costumes and vibrant wigs.

• Suit - distinguish your design from the rest with formal and sophisticated jackets and trousers.

• Wedding Dress - marry style with elegance; white ballgowns with stylish tiaras and veils.

• Angel - give your design the feeling of divinity and purity with white colors and feathery or ethereal wings.

• Queen - flowing gowns, capes with fur, luxurious fabrics decorated with sparkling jewels and gold.

• Military - soldier uniforms, camouflage and warfare.

• Spy - blend in with disguises, gadgets and gears, and sleek suits styled with fedoras.

• Sports - run your concept with an athletic and olympic feel.

• Street Style - ground your design with familiar clothing and streetwear.

• Flower Fairy - bedazzle with a magical and fantastical look adorned with colorful flowers.

• Mummy - wrap the undead in layers of linen bandages decorated with amulets from ancient Egypt.

• Vampire - take a more gothic inspiration with pale skin, pointed fangs, and Victorian capes and high collars.

• Black Magic - enchant your design with witch robes, potions, and pointy hats.

• Cute Animals - style your concept featuring adorable animal mascots.

• Ice Age - go back in time with the harsher conditions of the ice age; clothing made from animal hides, furs, and bone accessories.

Entries can be creatively designed around the contest's theme, or you may create their unique thematic works. All submissions must include the following elements:

a. Ultimate set for men and women, featuring front and back designs.

b. Design of upgraded guns, including basic/advanced/ultimate appearance.

In addition, creators can choose to design the skin based on the same theme you’ve chosen for the XPPen IP character, Fenix. Just make sure to provide both front and back views of the designs.

Why Join the Competition

If you’re still wondering why you should join this competition, then maybe this is your sign to read more about it. As you already know, the PDP Ultimate Design Contest 2025 isn’t just another art challenge you might come across as it comes with plenty of prizes and rewards. This can give you more than that, offering recognition not only for your art but also for your name and personal growth.

So here’s everything you need to know about why you should grab this opportunity and jump right in:

Global Exposure for Your Art

Your design has the chance to be showcased to millions of PUBG MOBILE players worldwide. This can reach a wide and diverse audience and is one of the greatest chances you have to present the potential of the piece you worked hard on to a massive audience. It can also help you gain global recognition and build an artist fanbase beyond your own community.

Cash and Big Prizes

You can win multiple awards based on your standing in the competition’s award setting. So whether you are the big winner or a runner-up, you will never go home empty-handed. Surely, you have even more chances of winning the moment you decide to join!

Bring Your Vision To Life In-Game

Hats off, as your vision and art could be the next PUBG MOBILE official Ultimate Set, worn by players all over the world. Just imagine, you would get to see your own creativity and work become a legendary collectible and an official part of the game.

Boost Your Art Career

You can get recognition from the co-host, one of the well-known and respected digital art brands around, XPPen, which can further open new doors for your career.

Learn, Improve, and Challenge Yourself

The contest is open globally, meaning you get to challenge yourself with its high standards against other great artists who can push you to be at your best and think creatively when bringing your own vision of the Ultimate Set to life.

Get ready, as your art could be the next in-game legend. Join the 4th Ultimate Set Design Contest now!

Prizes & Rewards

This year’s Ultimate Set Design Contest offers prize pools and opportunities you would never want to miss! You have the chance to win a share of the $120,000 Ultimate Prize Pool and XPPen drawing tablet! Here’s the breakdown for your information:

Eligibility & Entry Requirements

The XPPEN PUBGM drawing competition is open to all creators from around the world. There will be no restrictions on background or credentials for any participants who want to join. If you believe you are skilled and creative enough, then you are more than welcome to take part in this competition!

Eligibility to Join:

• Anyone can Participate. Regardless of your country or region, your age, or your profession, anyone can join.

• Digital or Hand-Drawn. Entries can be created digitally or hand-drawn. There are no restrictions on the design software you use, but you must keep the original working files for all entries, such as PSD files. Also, please take time-lapse recordings of key stages of the creation process—not the entire process—so that if any issues come up during the review period, you can provide the needed proof.

• Original Work. All of your designs must be 100% original and follow all relevant laws and regulations. There must be no use of AI-generated content, online images, or other external sources to create the work. Remember, plagiarism is strictly prohibited.

• Theme Alignment. Download and follow the template for the clothing project design provided. Your work should match the concept and include all the required details.

Submission Guidelines

One of the most important steps in the contest is the submission process, as this will determine if your uploaded art is properly in the system or not. Below is the complete summary of all the guidelines for your submission entry.

Judging Criteria

All entries will be reviewed and evaluated by PUBG MOBILE's official art director, specialists from different departments, and members of the XPPen art team. The following lists both the main judging points and the XPPen Jury’s focus areas.

1. Creativity – The creator must stay true to the originality of the concept, make imaginative use of the theme, and have the ability to stand out.

2. Technical Execution – The creator must show attention to detail, produce quality rendering, present clear design elements, and create an overall polished piece.

3. Relevance to the PUBG MOBILE World – The creator’s design must be suitable for the game’s style, genre, and lore.

4. Uniqueness – The creator must have a distinct style that clearly sets the entry apart from other designs.

XPPen Jury

The XPPen Jury refers to the judging panel for the Ultimate Set Design Contest, who will work together to choose the winning entries deserving of the top spots. Knowing the jury well might help you keep your advantage in their areas of focus.

Clinton Jones

Clinton Jones is a director, 3D/VFX artist, and photographer who has been hosting 3D work challenges on YouTube, covering all aspects of 3D modeling, rendering, animation, and special effects. His videos attract 3D artists from around the world to challenge themselves. He has worked with well-known studios such as Corridor Digital and RocketJump to create films and short films.

Shan Jiang

Shan Jiang graduated from the Edinburgh College of Art and is a world-renowned artist, illustrator, and designer. He worked with Apple to create illustrations for Hermès in a global competition. In 2014, he won the Golden Lion Award at the Cannes International Festival of Creativity. His illustrations are bold and emotionally powerful, reflecting international cultural diversity and strong creative skill, taking audiences to a spectacular and imaginative world.

Esteban Diacono

Esteban Diácono is a motion graphic designer and digital artist from Argentina, known for his creative work in 3D animation, motion design, and experimental digital art. His work has been shown at major art exhibitions and art centers around the world, such as the "Digital Creatures" exhibition by ArtFutura in Rome, ComplexCon, and the Barbican Center in London. He has worked with Apple, Gucci, Coachella, Nike, the London Symphony Orchestra, and Swarovski.

Royta-H

Ryota-H is a well-known Japanese animator, illustrator, and manga artist, recognized for his work in designing characters for games such as "Fate/Grand Order," "Alchemy Stars," and "Onmyoji." His style blends rich details with fantasy elements.

Tips for Participants

If you want your work to stand out and be remembered, make use of the following practical tips:

Stick to the Theme

Whatever festive theme you choose, make sure your ideas, design, and details tell the same story and fit the Ultimate Set concept.

Make a Character

Create a character that tells a story, along with the costume that suits them. Think about who would wear it, why they wear it, and what it says about them in the PUBG MOBILE world.

Use Colors Well

Experiment with color gradients, shades, contrasts, and different palettes that you think fit best with your design vision.

Focus on Details

Try to make a design that has more detail than it may first appear. Pay attention to features that will match the costume and make sure it looks functional overall.

Use Digital Drawing Tools

Use high-quality drawing tablets to help you bring out the best in your work.

Think of its Feasibility

Remember that your design needs to work in motion, so avoid overly pixelated or cluttered shapes that could be hard to animate.

FAQs

1. In what file format should I submit my design in?

All entries must be submitted in JPG format.

2. Are there any shipping restrictions?

XPPen will cover the shipping costs; however, customs duties may apply and will be the responsibility of the participant. Because of restrictions with shipping, there are cases where shipping is not available to the Middle East, except Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Africa, Bolivia, Brazil, and Argentina. Winners from these regions will receive cash as a replacement.

3. How to receive game props and cash rewards?

All rewards require the registration of a PUBG MOBILE game account.

• Game Prop Rewards: Please select your preferred reward props through the corresponding activity page in the Co-creation Base-PDP section. Rewards will be sent to your in-game mailbox.

• Cash Rewards: PDP uses the Freelancer system to distribute bonuses. You must enter the award information through Freelancer, after which you will receive an email containing a Freelancer link within the game. Follow the email link, register, and sign the agreement (once signed, no further signing is needed). Payments to winners usually arrive within 15 to 30 business days after registration and signing. It is recommended that after completing the signing process, you log in to Freelancer to track the status of your bonus.

• Discount Coupon Rewards: XPPen will send a product purchase discount code to your personal email, which can be used at all XPPen stores.

4. Who owns the rights to my submitted work?

You will still keep the copyright to your original design. However, by submitting, you give PUBG: Battlegrounds and PDP the right to use, display, and promote your work for contest-related purposes, with proper credit given to you as the creator.

Conclusion

Ready to make your mark in the battleground? This is your chance to show your creativity to millions of players around the world. Don’t wait—start as early as you can and let your creativity shine!