Mark Cerny, the chief 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 initiative is a philanthropic fellowship designed specifically to provide financial support, mentorship, and industry connections to up‑and‑coming game designers.
The foundation operates independently of both The Game Awards and Sony’s PlayStation brand, and its primary goal is to nurture fresh talent in the interactive‑entertainment space. According to a report from Game File, Nova will award $100,000 grants to twenty selected designers each calendar year. Approximately one‑quarter of those recipients will be eligible for an extra tranche of funding—up to $500,000—if their projects demonstrate exceptional promise or align closely with the foundation’s artistic vision.
Beyond the monetary component, each fellow will receive hands‑on mentorship from seasoned professionals across the gaming industry. This mentorship is intended to help creators refine their concepts, navigate technical challenges, and develop realistic production pipelines.
Importantly, the fellows retain full ownership of their intellectual property, meaning they remain free to partner with any publisher or platform they choose. Nova’s network can facilitate introductions, but it does not impose equity demands or seek a financial return on its investment. Applications for the inaugural cohort will open in December and will be available to graduates from 2026 and 2027 of thirteen partner university programs spread across eight different countries. The list of participating institutions includes TH Köln in Germany, RMIT University in Australia, Cnam‑Enjmin in France, Abertay University in Scotland, as well as the joint program between 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 a diverse pool of applicants with varied cultural perspectives and creative approaches. Both Cerny and Keighley are personally contributing multi‑million‑dollar sums to seed the foundation, and they have pledged to continue injecting capital as Nova expands its reach and impact.
Keighley emphasized the altruistic nature of the venture in an interview with Game File, 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 a commitment to artistic freedom rather than commercial exploitation.
To manage day‑to‑day operations, the foundation has appointed John Maconga as its executive director. Maconga brings a background in nonprofit leadership and strategic development, which will be critical for scaling the program and maintaining transparent governance.
Additionally, former Game Developers Conference director Ashley Corrigan has taken on the role of head of grants, overseeing the selection process and ensuring that funding decisions align with Nova’s mission. Notable industry figures have also offered their support; Josef Fares, director of It Takes Two and Split Fiction, has pledged a personal donation and pledged ongoing advocacy for the foundation. Fares expressed his enthusiasm, saying, "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 broader industry consensus that independent creators need more than just capital—they require the freedom to experiment without the constraints that often accompany traditional publishing deals. Cerny articulated a clear artistic rationale for the fellowship, describing games as "an artistic medium" capable of delivering profound emotional experiences.
He cited several critically acclaimed titles as exemplars of the kind of work Nova hopes to enable, including Neva, Abzu, Gorogoa, Stray, and Outer Wilds. Each of these games is celebrated for its distinctive visual style, innovative mechanics, and narrative depth, illustrating the diverse ways in which interactive media can push the boundaries of storytelling and design.
Keighley revealed that his inspiration for the fellowship concept stemmed partly from his own unsuccessful bid for a Rhodes Scholarship, as well as from the MacArthur Foundation’s famed "genius grants" and the career of Jenova Chen— the USC graduate behind landmark games such as Flower and Journey. By drawing on these models of high‑impact, merit‑based support, Keighley hopes Nova will become a catalyst for groundbreaking work that might otherwise struggle to find funding. The broader implications of Nova’s launch are significant for the gaming ecosystem. By providing sizable, non‑recoupable grants, the foundation lowers the financial barriers that often deter talented individuals from pursuing ambitious projects.
The mentorship component helps bridge the gap between academic training and real‑world production, while the retention of IP rights empowers creators to negotiate deals on their own terms. In an industry where large studios dominate market share, initiatives like Nova could diversify the types of games that reach players, encouraging more experimental, culturally resonant, and artistically daring experiences.
Looking ahead, the Nova Games Foundation plans to monitor the outcomes of its first cohorts closely, gathering data on project completion rates, critical reception, and commercial performance where applicable. This feedback loop will inform future grant cycles, allowing the organization to refine its criteria and support structures. As the foundation matures, there is potential for expanding the number of partner universities, increasing the total grant pool, and perhaps introducing specialized tracks for areas such as virtual reality, educational games, or socially impactful interactive experiences. In summary, the Nova Games Foundation represents a bold, altruistic effort by two high‑profile industry veterans to nurture the next wave of game designers.
By coupling substantial financial awards with mentorship, preserving creator ownership, and drawing inspiration from esteemed scholarship models, Nova aims to foster a vibrant, inclusive, and innovative gaming landscape for years to come.