Mark Cerny, the chief architect behind both the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, and Geoff Keighley, the well‑known host of The Game Awards, Summer Game Fest and Opening Night Live, have joined forces to create the Nova Games Foundation. This new initiative is a philanthropic fellowship designed specifically to nurture and finance the next generation of video‑game creators.
Although the foundation shares its founders with high‑profile industry events, it operates independently of The Game Awards and the PlayStation brand. The core of the program is a series of cash awards intended to give young designers the financial breathing room they need to develop ambitious projects. Each year, twenty individuals will be selected to receive a grant of $100,000. In addition, approximately one quarter of those recipients will qualify for an extra tranche of funding that can reach as high as $500,000 for concepts that demonstrate exceptional promise or innovative potential.
This tiered structure is meant to reward both solid, achievable ideas and truly groundbreaking visions that could push the medium forward. Beyond the monetary support, Nova Games Foundation pairs each fellow with seasoned mentors from the gaming industry. These mentors provide guidance on design, production, and business strategy, while also helping fellows navigate the complex landscape of publishing and platform distribution. Importantly, the fellowship does not require creators to surrender ownership of their intellectual property.
Designers retain full rights to their games and are free to seek deals with any publisher or platform that aligns with their goals. The foundation’s network can facilitate introductions, but the ultimate decision‑making power remains with the developers. The application window opens in December and is open to graduates from the class of 2026 and 2027 who have completed one of thirteen partner university programs.
These programs are spread across eight countries and include institutions such as TH Köln in Germany, RMIT University in Australia, Cnam‑Enjmin in France, Abertay University in Scotland, and the United States partnership of New York University and the University of Southern California. By targeting students from a diverse set of academic environments, Nova hopes to capture a wide range of cultural perspectives and design philosophies. Funding for the foundation is coming directly from Cerny and Keighley, who have each pledged multi‑million‑dollar contributions from their personal wealth. Both have indicated that they intend to continue investing in the foundation as it expands, ensuring a sustainable financial base for future cohorts.
Keighley emphasized the altruistic nature of the effort, stating, "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." This sentiment underscores the belief that the true value of the program lies in the artistic and cultural impact of the games produced, rather than any direct financial gain. To run the organization, Nova has appointed John Maconga as its executive director. Maconga brings experience in nonprofit management and will oversee the day‑to‑day operations of the fellowship.
Additionally, former Game Developers Conference director Ashley Corrigan has been hired as head of grants, where she will manage the selection process and ensure that funding is allocated fairly and transparently. The foundation has also attracted support from prominent creators, such as Josef Fares, the director behind It Gets Two and Split Fiction. Fares has pledged both a monetary donation and his personal endorsement, noting, "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 mission for Nova, describing games as an "artistic medium" that deserves the same kind of patronage traditionally reserved for the visual arts, literature, or music.
He cited several indie titles that exemplify the type of work the foundation hopes to enable, including Neva, Abzu, Gorogoa, Stray, and Outer Wilds. These games are celebrated for their evocative storytelling, innovative mechanics, and emotional resonance, qualities that Nova aims to foster in its fellows. Keighley's inspiration for the fellowship model draws from several personal and historical sources.
He recalled his own unsuccessful bid for a Rhodes Scholarship, which sparked a desire to create opportunities for talented individuals who might otherwise be overlooked. He also referenced the MacArthur Foundation’s "genius grants," which provide unrestricted funding to exceptional creators, and the work of Jenova Chen, the USC alumnus behind critically acclaimed titles such as Flower and Journey.
By blending these influences, Keighley hopes to build a program that not only supplies money but also cultivates an environment where bold, experimental ideas can flourish. The broader significance of the Nova Games Foundation lies in its potential to reshape how the industry supports emerging talent. Traditionally, young developers have relied on venture capital, publisher advances, or crowd‑funding campaigns—each of which often comes with strings attached, such as equity stakes, creative control concessions, or intense market pressure.
Nova’s grant‑only, mentorship‑focused model offers an alternative path that prioritizes artistic integrity and long‑term development over immediate commercial returns. If successful, the fellowship could produce a new wave of games that push boundaries in narrative design, visual aesthetics, and interactive storytelling.
By removing financial barriers and providing seasoned guidance, Nova may enable creators to experiment with unconventional mechanics, explore underrepresented themes, and reach audiences that mainstream titles rarely touch. In doing so, the foundation not only supports individual careers but also enriches the cultural tapestry of video games as a whole. In summary, the Nova Games Foundation, spearheaded by industry veterans Mark Cerny and Geoff Keighley, represents a bold philanthropic venture aimed at empowering young game designers through substantial grants, mentorship, and the preservation of creative ownership.
With a structured grant system, a global network of partner universities, and the backing of seasoned professionals, the program aspires to foster innovative, artistically driven games that might otherwise struggle to find funding in the conventional market. The initiative stands as a testament to the belief that investing in creative talent yields cultural dividends far beyond any monetary return, and it could serve as a model for future philanthropic efforts within the interactive entertainment sector.