Mark Cerny and Geoff Keighley have teamed up to create the Nova Games Foundation, a charitable fellowship initiative designed to provide financial backing and mentorship to the next generation of video‑game creators. While the foundation operates independently of both The Game Awards and Sony’s PlayStation brand, its mission is clear: to nurture fresh talent and give aspiring developers the resources they need to bring innovative experiences to market.
According to a report from Game File, the Nova Games Foundation will award $100,000 grants to twenty selected designers annually. About a quarter of those recipients will qualify for an extra tranche of up to $500,000 for projects that demonstrate exceptional promise or ambition. The funding model is deliberately non‑equity; the foundation does not seek a share of future revenues or ownership stakes.
Instead, it aims to foster creative growth, allowing developers to retain full control over their intellectual property and to choose publishing partners or distribution platforms that best suit their vision. Nova will also act as a bridge, making introductions to industry contacts and potential collaborators. Mentorship is a core component of the program. Each grant recipient will be paired with seasoned veterans from the gaming world, giving them direct access to advice on design, production, business strategy, and technical implementation.
This guidance is intended to accelerate learning curves, reduce common pitfalls, and help emerging studios navigate the complex landscape of modern game development. Applications will open in December and will be available to graduates from the class of 2026 and 2027 who have completed one of thirteen partner university programs spread across eight nations.
The partner institutions include TH Köln in Germany, RMIT University in Australia, 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 targeting these academically vetted pipelines, Nova hopes to tap into a diverse pool of talent that reflects a broad range of cultural perspectives and design philosophies.
Both founders are contributing significant personal capital to the foundation. Cerny, renowned for his role as the lead architect behind the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 consoles, and Keighley, the charismatic host of The Game Awards, Summer Game Fest, and Opening Night Live, have each pledged multi‑million‑dollar donations.
They have indicated that they intend to continue investing in the initiative as it expands, ensuring a sustainable financial base for future cohorts. "Nova is philanthropy: we aren't taking equity or looking to recoup the grants," Keighley explained to Game File. "The return we're hoping for is creative – helping new voices make games and find their footing." This philosophy underscores the foundation’s emphasis on artistic freedom rather than commercial return. To manage day‑to‑day operations, the foundation has hired John Maconga as its executive director.
Former Game Developers Conference director Ashley Corrigan will oversee the grant‑making process as head of grants. Their combined experience in event production, community building, and funding allocation is expected to streamline the selection process and ensure transparency.
The initiative has already attracted support from notable industry figures. Josef Fares, the director behind critically acclaimed titles such as It Takes Two and Split Fiction, has pledged both a monetary donation and ongoing mentorship.
"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," Fares said. Cerny articulated a broader artistic rationale for the fellowship, positioning games as a legitimate artistic medium. He cited a range of titles that exemplify the kind of experiential storytelling Nova hopes to enable, including Neva, Abzu, Gorogoa, Stray, and Outer Wilds.
These games are celebrated for their innovative mechanics, atmospheric design, and emotional resonance, qualities that the foundation aims to cultivate in its grant recipients. Keighley revealed that his inspiration for the fellowship model stemmed in part from personal experiences.
He recalled an unsuccessful attempt to secure a Rhodes Scholarship, admired the MacArthur Foundation’s "genius grants," and drew influence from Jenova Chen, the USC graduate who created the poetic games Flower and Journey. These touchstones shaped his belief that generous, non‑reciprocal support can unlock extraordinary creativity. In summary, the Nova Games Foundation represents a bold experiment in game development philanthropy. By providing sizable, equity‑free grants, pairing recipients with industry mentors, and preserving creators’ ownership of their work, the program seeks to lower barriers for talented designers who might otherwise struggle to find funding.
Its global university network, high‑profile backers, and clear artistic mission position it as a potentially transformative force in the industry, promising to bring a wave of fresh, innovative games to players worldwide.