Mark Cerny, the celebrated 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 nurture and financially support up-and‑coming talent in the video‑game industry.
The Nova Games Foundation operates independently of both The Game Awards and Sony’s PlayStation brand. Its core mission is to provide substantial monetary assistance to young designers while also offering mentorship from seasoned industry veterans. Each year, the program intends to award $100,000 grants to twenty promising creators. Approximately one‑quarter of those recipients will qualify for an additional tranche of funding that can rise as high as $500,000 for projects that demonstrate exceptional promise or innovative potential.
Beyond the financial component, fellows will benefit from direct guidance and coaching by experienced professionals who have already navigated the complexities of game development, publishing, and distribution. Importantly, the foundation’s structure ensures that the creators retain full ownership of their intellectual property. They remain free to negotiate with any publisher or platform they choose, while Nova can facilitate introductions and networking opportunities that might otherwise be difficult for independent developers to secure.
The application window opens in December and remains open through 2026 and 2027 for graduates of thirteen partner university programs spread across eight different countries. These partner institutions include TH Köln in Germany, RMIT University in Australia, CNAM‑ENJMIN in France, Abertay University in Scotland, as well as the collaborative program between New York University and the University of Southern California in the United States. By targeting graduates from these reputable schools, the foundation aims to capture a diverse pool of talent that reflects a wide range of cultural perspectives and design philosophies.
Both Cerny and Keighley are personally investing multi‑million‑dollar sums into the foundation, and they have indicated that they plan to continue contributing additional capital as the program expands and matures. Their financial commitment underscores a belief that the industry needs more avenues for creative risk‑taking that are not driven by equity stakes or immediate commercial returns. "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 sentiment captures the essence of the foundation’s philosophy: success is measured not by financial profit but by the emergence of fresh, artistic voices that can push the medium forward.
To manage day‑to‑day operations, the foundation has appointed John Maconga as its executive director. Additionally, Ashley Corrigan, former director of the Game Developers Conference, has taken on the role of head of grants, bringing extensive experience in evaluating and supporting game projects. The initiative has also attracted the support of notable industry figures such as Josef Fares, the director behind It Gets 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 fostering new talent is essential for the long‑term health of the medium. Cerny articulated a broader artistic vision for the fellowship, emphasizing that games should be recognized as a legitimate artistic medium. He cited several critically acclaimed titles—such as Neva, Abzu, Gorogoa, Stray, and Outer Wilds—as exemplars of the kind of innovative, emotionally resonant experiences that Nova hopes to enable. These games, known for their distinctive aesthetics, narrative depth, and experimental mechanics, serve as benchmarks for the type of work the foundation wishes to champion.
Keighley’s inspiration for the fellowship model draws from several personal and historical influences. He referenced his own unsuccessful attempt to secure a Rhodes Scholarship, the prestige of the MacArthur Foundation’s "genius grants," and the career of Jenova Chen—USC graduate and creator of the visionary titles Flower and Journey.
By blending these inspirations, Keighley aims to construct a program that not only provides financial backing but also cultivates an environment where creativity can flourish without the constraints of traditional commercial expectations. In practical terms, the Nova Games Foundation will operate on a rolling cycle, reviewing applications each year and disbursing funds to selected fellows shortly after the evaluation process concludes.
The mentorship component will pair each grant recipient with a mentor whose expertise aligns with the fellow’s project scope—whether that be narrative design, technical programming, artistic direction, or business development. This tailored support is intended to accelerate the development timeline and increase the likelihood that each project reaches a polished, market‑ready state. The foundation also plans to host periodic showcase events where fellows can present prototypes or finished products to a curated audience of publishers, investors, and fellow creators.
These showcases will serve as both a networking platform and a means of generating public awareness for the innovative work being produced under the Nova umbrella. Overall, the Nova Games Foundation represents a significant step toward institutionalizing support for independent game development at an early career stage. By combining substantial financial awards, mentorship from industry veterans, and a commitment to preserving creator ownership, the program seeks to lower the barriers that often prevent talented designers from realizing their visions. As the first cohort of fellows begins their journey, the industry will be watching closely to see how this philanthropic model influences the next wave of groundbreaking games.