Mark Cerny and Geoff Keighley have joined forces to establish the Nova Games Foundation, a charitable fellowship designed to give financial backing and mentorship to up-and‑coming video‑game creators. The initiative, which operates independently of The Game Awards and PlayStation, aims to nurture fresh talent by offering sizable grants and access to industry expertise. According to a report from Game File, the foundation intends to award $100,000 grants to twenty designers annually.
Roughly one‑quarter of those recipients will qualify for an extra tranche of up to $500,000 for projects that demonstrate exceptional promise or innovative potential. The money is intended to cover development costs, prototyping, hiring staff, licensing tools, and other expenses that typically hinder independent creators. Beyond the cash infusion, each fellow will be paired with seasoned veterans from the gaming world who will provide guidance on design, production, marketing, and business strategy. Importantly, the fellows retain full ownership of their intellectual property, allowing them to negotiate publishing deals or platform agreements on their own terms.
Nova will act as a connector, introducing creators to publishers, platform holders, and other partners that can help bring their visions to market. The application window opens in December and remains open through 2026 and 2027 for graduates of thirteen partner university programs spread across eight countries. Selected institutions include TH Köln in Germany, RMIT University in Australia, Cnam‑Enjmin in France, Abertay University in Scotland, and the U.S. duo of New York University and the University of Southern California.
By targeting recent graduates, the foundation hopes to capture talent at a pivotal moment when creative ideas are fresh but resources are scarce. Cerny, best known as the lead architect behind both the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 consoles, and Keighley, the longtime host of The Game Awards, Summer Game Fest, and Opening Night Live, are personally underwriting the foundation with multi‑million‑dollar contributions. Both have pledged to continue injecting capital as the program matures, ensuring a sustainable pipeline of support for new developers. "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 non‑profit ethos; the goal is not financial gain but the enrichment of the medium through diverse, innovative works. To run the organization, Nova has appointed John Maconga as executive director and hired Ashley Corrigan—formerly the director of the Game Developers Conference—as head of grants.
Their combined experience in event production, community building, and grant administration is expected to streamline the selection process and provide robust support for fellows. Renowned developer Josef Fares, known for directing It Takes Two and Split Fiction, has also pledged a donation and pledged his personal support.
"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 highlighted that the program is meant to champion games as an artistic medium.
He cited several indie titles that have pushed the boundaries of interactive storytelling and aesthetics—such as Neva, Abzu, Gorogoa, Stray, and Outer Wilds—as exemplars of the type of work Nova hopes to enable. These games demonstrate how modest budgets, when paired with strong artistic direction, can produce experiences that resonate deeply with players and critics alike.
Keighley revealed that his inspiration for the fellowship concept stemmed partly from his own unsuccessful bid for a Rhodes Scholarship, as well as the MacArthur Foundation’s famed "genius grants" and the career of Jenova Chen, the USC graduate behind masterpieces like Flower and Journey. He believes that providing a similar level of recognition and financial freedom can unlock untapped potential in the next wave of designers. The broader impact of the Nova Games Foundation could be significant. By lowering the financial barriers that often prevent talented individuals from turning prototypes into polished products, the fellowship may increase the diversity of voices and narratives in the gaming ecosystem.
Moreover, the mentorship component ensures that fellows learn best practices from seasoned professionals, potentially accelerating their career trajectories and fostering a culture of collaboration. Industry observers note that such philanthropic models are relatively rare in the interactive entertainment sector, where venture capital and publisher funding dominate. Nova’s approach—grant‑based, equity‑free, and mentorship‑rich—could serve as a blueprint for future initiatives aimed at nurturing creative risk‑taking.
In summary, the Nova Games Foundation, spearheaded by veteran industry figures Mark Cerny and Geoff Keighley, offers a blend of substantial monetary awards, mentorship, and networking opportunities to emerging game designers. With $100,000 grants for twenty fellows each year and the possibility of additional funding up to $500,000 for standout projects, the program seeks to empower creators to develop innovative, artistically driven games while retaining full control over their work. Applications open this December, inviting recent graduates from a select group of global universities to apply and potentially join a new generation of game‑making pioneers.