Mark Cerny, the celebrated lead architect behind the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 consoles, and Geoff Keighley, the well‑known host of The Game Awards, Summer Game Fest, and Opening Night Live, have jointly announced the creation of the Nova Games Foundation. This initiative is a philanthropic fellowship designed specifically to provide financial backing, mentorship, and industry connections to up‑and‑coming game designers who are still early in their careers. According to a report from Game File, the foundation is not tied to The Game Awards brand or to Sony’s PlayStation division, even though both founders have deep roots in those ecosystems. Nova’s core offering consists of a $100,000 grant awarded to twenty selected designers each calendar year.
Of those twenty recipients, roughly one‑quarter will be eligible for a supplemental award of up to $500,000 if their project demonstrates exceptional potential or aligns closely with the foundation’s artistic vision. The purpose of the larger sum is to give the most promising ideas the resources they need to move from prototype to polished, market‑ready experience.
Beyond the monetary component, the fellowship includes a mentorship program that pairs each grant recipient with seasoned veterans from the video‑game industry. These mentors will provide guidance on design, production, business strategy, and creative storytelling, helping young creators navigate the complex landscape of game development. Importantly, the foundation has stipulated that grant recipients will retain full ownership of their intellectual property. They are free to seek publishing deals, platform partnerships, or self‑publish, and Nova will assist by making introductions to potential collaborators and distributors when appropriate.
The application window opens in December and will remain open through 2026 and 2027 for graduates of thirteen university programs that have partnered with the foundation. These programs span eight countries and include notable institutions such as TH Köln in Germany, RMIT University in Australia, Cnam‑Enjmin in France, Abertay University in Scotland, and the United States duo of New York University and the University of Southern California. By targeting graduates from these schools, Nova hopes to tap into a diverse pool of talent that reflects a wide range of cultural perspectives and design philosophies.
Cerny and Keighley are personally financing the foundation with multi‑million‑dollar contributions from their own pockets, and they have indicated that they intend to continue injecting capital as the organization expands. "Nova is philanthropy: we aren't taking equity or looking to recoup the grants," Keighley told Game File. "The return we're hoping for is creative – helping new voices make games and find their footing." This statement underscores the non‑profit, altruistic nature of the venture; the founders are not seeking a financial stake in the projects they support, but rather a cultural and artistic impact that enriches the medium as a whole. To manage day‑to‑day operations, the foundation has appointed John Maconga as its executive director.
In addition, former Game Developers Conference director Ashley Corrigan has taken on the role of head of grants, overseeing the selection process and ensuring that the distribution of funds aligns with Nova’s mission. The initiative has also attracted support from established creators, such as Josef Fares, the director behind critically acclaimed titles like It Takes Two and Split Fiction.
Fares has pledged both a monetary donation and his personal endorsement, 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." Cerny articulated a clear artistic philosophy for the foundation, describing games as "an artistic medium" and citing examples of works that embody the type of innovation Nova wishes to foster. He referenced titles such as Neva, Abzu, Gorogoa, Stray, and Outer Wilds—games that have been praised for their distinctive aesthetics, immersive storytelling, and experimental gameplay mechanics. By highlighting these examples, Cerny signals that the foundation is looking for projects that push boundaries, challenge conventions, and offer players fresh, emotionally resonant experiences. Keighley's inspiration for the fellowship concept draws from several personal and historical sources.
He mentioned his own unsuccessful attempt to secure a Rhodes Scholarship, the prestige of the MacArthur Foundation’s "genius grants," and the career of Jenova Chen, the USC alumnus behind seminal games like Flower and Journey. These influences reflect a desire to create a program that not only provides financial support but also validates the creative brilliance of young designers, much like the aforementioned scholarships and grants have done for scholars and artists in other fields. In the broader context of the video‑game industry, the Nova Games Foundation arrives at a time when independent development is flourishing, yet many aspiring creators still face significant barriers to entry.
High development costs, limited access to experienced mentors, and the difficulty of securing publishing deals can stall promising projects before they ever reach a public audience. By offering substantial grants, mentorship, and networking opportunities without demanding equity, Nova aims to lower these obstacles and empower a new wave of developers to bring their unique visions to market. The foundation’s long‑term goals include building a sustainable pipeline of talent that can contribute to the evolution of games as a form of artistic expression. Through its grant program, Nova hopes to seed projects that might otherwise remain concepts, encouraging experimentation and risk‑taking that can lead to breakthroughs in narrative design, visual style, and interactive mechanics.
Over time, the success stories emerging from the fellowship could serve as proof points for the efficacy of philanthropic investment in creative industries, potentially inspiring similar initiatives from other benefactors. Overall, the Nova Games Foundation represents a bold commitment by two industry veterans to nurture the next generation of game designers. By combining generous financial awards, mentorship from seasoned professionals, and a philosophy that prioritizes artistic integrity over profit, the program seeks to cultivate a vibrant ecosystem where innovative, heartfelt, and boundary‑pushing games can thrive. Applications open this December, and the foundation encourages eligible graduates from its partner universities to apply and take advantage of this unprecedented opportunity to launch their careers.