Mark Cerny, the veteran architect behind 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 support up-and‑coming video‑game designers with both financial backing and industry mentorship. According to a report from Game File, the foundation will distribute $100,000 grants to twenty promising creators annually.
About one‑quarter of those recipients will be eligible for a supplemental award of up to $500,000 if their projects demonstrate exceptional promise or innovation. The money is intended to cover development costs, prototyping, and other expenses that often hinder independent creators from bringing their visions to life. Beyond the cash infusion, each fellow will receive guidance from seasoned professionals in the gaming sector. Mentors will share practical advice, technical know‑how, and strategic insight, helping the awardees navigate the complex landscape of game production, publishing, and platform selection.
Importantly, the fellows will retain full ownership of any intellectual property they develop, and Nova will facilitate introductions to publishers, distributors, and platform holders should the creators choose to pursue those avenues. The application window opens in December and will be open to graduates from the class of 2026 and 2027 who have completed one of the thirteen partner university programs spread across eight countries.
The partner institutions include TH Köln in Germany, RMIT University in Australia, CNAM‑ENJMIN in France, Abertay University in Scotland, as well as the joint program offered by New York University and the University of Southern California in the United States. These schools were selected for their strong curricula in game design, interactive media, and related disciplines, ensuring that the pool of applicants will consist of individuals who have already received a solid academic foundation. Cerny and Keighley are personally financing the foundation with multi‑million‑dollar contributions, and they have indicated that they intend to continue injecting capital as the program expands. Keighley emphasized the purely altruistic nature of the venture, 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 philosophy underscores the foundation’s commitment to artistic freedom rather than commercial gain. To manage day‑to‑day operations, the foundation has appointed 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 organization, community building, and funding allocation is expected to streamline the selection and support of fellows. The initiative has already attracted additional industry support.
Josef Fares, the director known for 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, highlighting the importance of giving emerging talent the resources they need to experiment without undue financial pressure. Cerny articulated a broader cultural goal for the fellowship, describing games as an "artistic medium" that deserves the same kind of patronage traditionally afforded to music, film, or visual arts. He cited several acclaimed independent titles—Neva, Abzu, Gorogoa, Stray, and Outer Wilds—as exemplars of the type of innovative, emotionally resonant experiences Nova hopes to enable.
These games have each pushed the boundaries of narrative, aesthetics, or gameplay mechanics, and they serve as proof that modestly funded projects can achieve critical and commercial success. Keighley's inspiration for the fellowship model stems from personal experiences and existing grant programs. He recalled his own unsuccessful bid for a Rhodes Scholarship, noting how that setback sparked a desire to create opportunities for others. He also referenced the MacArthur Foundation's "genius grants" and the work of Jenova Chen—a USC alumnus who created the poetic titles Flower and Journey—as templates for supporting visionary creators.
In summary, the Nova Games Foundation represents a concerted effort by two high‑profile industry figures to nurture the next wave of game designers. By combining substantial financial awards, mentorship from veteran developers, and a commitment to preserving creators' ownership rights, the program aims to lower the barriers that often prevent innovative ideas from reaching players. The partnership with universities across Europe, Australia, and North America ensures a diverse applicant pool, while the involvement of respected professionals like John Maconga, Ashley Corrigan, and Josef Fares adds credibility and operational expertise.
If successful, Nova could become a model for how philanthropy can directly influence the evolution of interactive entertainment, fostering a richer, more varied gaming landscape for years to come.