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 provide financial backing and mentorship to up‑and‑coming video‑game designers. According to a report from Game File, the foundation operates independently of The Game Awards and of Sony’s PlayStation brand.
Its core offering consists of $100,000 grants awarded each year to twenty promising designers. Roughly one‑quarter of those recipients will be eligible for an additional award of up to $500,000 if their project demonstrates exceptional potential or a particularly innovative vision. The extra funding is intended to help those creators bring more ambitious concepts to fruition without the pressure of commercial expectations. Beyond the monetary support, fellows will receive direct mentorship from seasoned veterans of the industry.
This guidance is meant to accelerate the learning curve for young talent, offering insights into design, production, and business strategy. Importantly, the fellows retain full ownership of any intellectual property they develop under the program. They are free to seek publishing deals or platform partnerships of their own choosing, while Nova can facilitate introductions to relevant contacts when needed.
The application window opens in December and remains open through 2026 and 2027 for graduates of thirteen partner university programs spread across eight nations. Some of the participating institutions include TH Köln in Germany, RMIT University in Australia, CNAM‑Enjmin in France, Abertay University in Scotland, as well as the United States duo of New York University and the University of Southern California. By targeting recent graduates from these respected schools, the foundation hopes to capture fresh perspectives that are still in the early stages of professional development. Both Cerny and Keighley are personally contributing multi‑million‑dollar sums to seed the foundation, and they have indicated a commitment to continue investing as the program expands.
Keighley emphasized the altruistic nature of the effort in an interview with Game File: "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 statement underscores the founders’ belief that the true payoff lies in enriching the cultural landscape of interactive entertainment rather than in direct financial gain. To manage day‑to‑day operations, the foundation has appointed John Maconga as its executive director. Additionally, Ashley Corrigan, who previously served as director of the Game Developers Conference, has taken on the role of head of grants, overseeing the selection process and ensuring that funds are allocated fairly and strategically.
The initiative has also attracted support from notable industry figures such as Josef Fares, the director behind It Takes Two and Split Fiction, who has pledged both a monetary donation and ongoing advocacy for the program. 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 endorsement highlights a growing consensus among established developers that nurturing new talent is essential for the medium’s long‑term vitality. Cerny articulated the artistic ambition behind Nova, describing games as "an artistic medium" and citing exemplary titles such as Neva, Abzu, Gorogoa, Stray, and Outer Wilds as the sort of work the foundation hopes to enable. These games are frequently praised for their evocative storytelling, innovative mechanics, and emotional resonance—qualities that align with Nova’s mission to champion projects that push boundaries rather than simply chase commercial trends.
Keighley revealed that his inspiration for the fellowship model stemmed in part from his own experience of being turned down for a Rhodes Scholarship, as well as from the MacArthur Foundation’s famed "genius grants" and from the career of Jenova Chen, the USC graduate who created the critically acclaimed games Flower and Journey. By drawing on these diverse sources of inspiration, Keighley aims to construct a program that not only provides financial resources but also cultivates an environment where artistic risk‑taking is encouraged and celebrated. In summary, the Nova Games Foundation represents a significant investment in the future of interactive media.
By offering substantial grants, mentorship from industry leaders, and the freedom for creators to retain ownership of their work, the foundation seeks to lower the barriers that often prevent innovative ideas from reaching the market. As the inaugural cohort of fellows begins to take shape, the broader gaming community will be watching closely to see how this philanthropic model influences the next wave of groundbreaking titles.