Mark Cerny, the visionary behind the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 hardware, and industry‑renowned presenter Geoff Keighley have joined forces to create the Nova Games Foundation, a charitable fellowship designed to back the next generation of video‑game designers. The initiative, which operates independently of both The Game Awards and Sony’s PlayStation division, is built around a simple yet powerful premise: provide substantial financial support and mentorship to promising young creators without demanding equity or expecting a financial return. According to reporting from Game File, the foundation intends to allocate $100,000 grants to twenty individual designers or small teams annually. Approximately one‑quarter of those awardees will qualify for an extra tranche of funding that can reach as high as $500,000 when the judging panel determines that a project demonstrates especially high potential or artistic merit.
This tiered structure is meant to seed a broad base of talent while also giving extra resources to concepts that could benefit from a larger production budget. Beyond the monetary component, each recipient will be paired with seasoned mentors drawn from the wider game‑development community. Mentors will offer guidance on design, technical challenges, narrative construction, and the business realities of publishing.
Importantly, the foundation guarantees that creators retain full ownership of the intellectual property they produce. This means that, after the fellowship period, developers are free to approach any publisher, platform holder, or self‑publish route they prefer. Nova’s team can facilitate introductions and help navigate those conversations, but they will not impose any contractual claims on the final product.
The application window opens in December and will be open to recent graduates—specifically those who completed their studies in 2026 or 2027—from a curated list of thirteen partner university programs located across eight different nations. The roster includes the Cologne University of Applied Sciences (TH Köln) in Germany, RMIT University in Australia, the École nationale supérieure des Arts Décoratifs (Cnam‑Enjmin) in France, Abertay University in Scotland, and a joint program between New York University and the University of Southern California in the United States. By focusing on these accredited curricula, the foundation aims to identify talent that has already benefitted from formal instruction while still being early enough in their careers to need a launchpad. Funding for the foundation is being supplied directly by Cerny and Keighley, who have each pledged multi‑million‑dollar contributions from their personal wealth.
Both have indicated that they intend to continue supplementing the endowment as the program expands, ensuring a sustainable pipeline of grants for years to come. In a recent interview with Game File, Keighley emphasized the philanthropic nature of the effort: "Nova is philanthropy: we aren't taking equity or looking to recoup the grants.
The return we're hoping for is creative – helping new voices make games and find their footing." To run the day‑to‑day operations, the foundation has recruited John Maconga as its executive director. Maconga brings a background in nonprofit leadership and a network of industry contacts that will be essential for sourcing mentors and facilitating collaborations. Former Game Developers Conference director Ashley Corrigan has been appointed head of grants, tasked with overseeing the selection process, due‑diligence, and the disbursement of funds.
In addition, acclaimed developer Josef Fares—known for his work on It Takes Two and Split Fiction—has pledged a personal donation and ongoing support, adding further credibility to the venture. Fares expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "I'm proud to support Nova because it gives the next generation of creators the freedom to explore their creativity and hopefully bring their unique visions to life." His involvement underscores a broader industry trend where established creators are stepping into mentorship roles to preserve the medium’s artistic vitality.
Cerny framed the foundation’s mission in cultural terms, describing games as "an artistic medium" that deserves the same kind of patronage traditionally reserved for the fine arts, literature, or music. He cited several recent titles that exemplify the type of experiential, emotionally resonant work Nova hopes to nurture: Neva, the underwater adventure Abzu, the hand‑drawn puzzle masterpiece Gorogoa, the atmospheric exploration of Stray, and the philosophical time‑loop of Outer Wilds.
Each of these games achieved critical acclaim while pushing the boundaries of what interactive media can convey. Keighley offered a personal glimpse into the inspiration behind the fellowship concept.
He referenced his own thwarted attempt to secure a Rhodes Scholarship, the prestige of the MacArthur Foundation’s "genius grants," and the career of Jenova Chen—a USC alumnus whose titles Flower and Journey demonstrated how games could function as moving works of art. By modeling Nova on these examples, Keighley hopes to democratize access to the kind of support that once seemed reserved for a privileged few. In practical terms, the fellowship will operate on an annual cycle. After the December opening, applicants will submit portfolios, design documents, and a clear articulation of how the grant will be used.
A review panel—comprising senior designers, producers, and academic representatives—will evaluate proposals based on criteria such as originality, feasibility, artistic ambition, and potential impact on the broader gaming landscape. Those selected will enter a structured program that includes regular check‑ins, mentorship sessions, and networking events designed to accelerate development timelines. The Nova Games Foundation thus represents a significant new avenue for aspiring developers to obtain the financial breathing room and expert guidance needed to turn ambitious concepts into playable experiences.
By coupling generous cash awards with mentorship and preserving creators’ ownership rights, the program aspires to cultivate a diverse array of innovative games that might otherwise struggle to find backing in a market dominated by large studios and publisher‑driven pipelines. As the first cohort of fellows prepares to embark on their projects, the industry will be watching closely to see how this philanthropic model reshapes the ecosystem for emerging talent.