Mark Cerny, the chief architect behind Sony’s PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 consoles, 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 backing, mentorship, and industry connections to up‑and‑coming game creators. According to a report from Game File, the Nova Games Foundation will award $100,000 grants to twenty promising designers each calendar year. About one‑quarter of those recipients will be eligible for an additional award of up to $500,000 when their projects demonstrate exceptional potential or a particularly innovative vision.
The money is intended to cover development costs, prototyping, art production, sound design, and other essential expenses that independent creators often struggle to finance. Beyond the cash infusion, each fellow will receive mentorship from seasoned veterans of the video‑game industry.
The mentorship component is meant to bridge the gap between academic training and real‑world production, offering guidance on topics such as project management, narrative design, technical optimization, and marketing strategy. Importantly, the foundation guarantees that fellows retain full ownership of any intellectual property they develop. They are free to seek publishing deals, platform agreements, or self‑publish, while Nova can facilitate introductions to publishers, platform holders, and other strategic partners. The application window opens in December and will remain open through 2026 and 2027 for graduates of thirteen partner university programs located across eight countries.
Selected institutions include TH Köln in Germany, RMIT University in Australia, Cnam‑Enjmin in France, Abertay University in Scotland, as well as the joint New York University‑University of Southern California program in the United States. By targeting recent graduates, the foundation aims to capture fresh talent at a pivotal moment when they are ready to transition from coursework to commercial production.
Both Cerny and Keighley are personally underwriting the foundation with multimillion‑dollar contributions. They have indicated that they intend to continue investing additional capital as the program scales and as more designers join the fellowship. Keighley emphasized the non‑profit nature of the effort, 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 financial gain. To manage day‑to‑day operations, the foundation has appointed John Maconga as its executive director.
Maconga brings a background in venture creation and community building, which will be valuable for overseeing grant distribution and program logistics. Additionally, former Game Developers Conference director Ashley Corrigan has been hired as head of grants, leveraging her extensive experience in curating industry events and supporting developer ecosystems. Notable industry figures have also pledged support; Josef Fares, the director behind acclaimed titles such as It Takes Two and Split Fiction, announced a personal donation and pledged ongoing assistance to 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 the broader community’s belief that independent creators are essential to the medium’s evolution.
Cerny articulated the artistic ambition behind Nova, describing games as "an artistic medium" and citing examples of works that embody the kind of innovative, emotionally resonant experiences the foundation hopes to nurture. He referenced titles such as Neva, Abzu, Gorogoa, Stray, and Outer Wilds—games that have been praised for their distinctive aesthetics, atmospheric storytelling, and experimental gameplay mechanics.
By pointing to these successes, Cerny signals that Nova aims to fund projects that push the boundaries of interactivity and narrative. Keighley explained that the fellowship concept was partially inspired by his own experiences with prestigious scholarships and grants. He mentioned his unsuccessful bid for a Rhodes Scholarship, the MacArthur Foundation’s famed "genius grants," and the work of Jenova Chen— the USC alumnus behind critically acclaimed games Flower and Journey.
These influences shaped his belief that generous, non‑recoupable funding can empower creators to take artistic risks without the pressure of immediate commercial returns. The Nova Games Foundation represents a significant addition to the ecosystem of support for independent game development. By combining substantial financial awards, mentorship from industry leaders, and a commitment to preserving creators’ ownership rights, the program seeks to lower the barriers that often prevent talented designers from realizing their visions. As the foundation rolls out its first cohort, it will be closely watched by both aspiring developers and established studios eager to see the next wave of innovative, artistically driven games emerge from this new source of support.