Mark Cerny and Geoff Keighley have joined forces to create the Nova Games Foundation, a charitable fellowship designed to nurture the next generation of video‑game creators. The initiative, which operates independently of The Game Awards and PlayStation, aims to inject substantial financial support and mentorship into the early careers of promising designers.
According to a report from Game File, the foundation intends to award $100,000 grants to twenty emerging developers annually. Approximately one‑quarter of those recipients will qualify for an extra tranche of funding—potentially as much as $500,000—if their projects demonstrate exceptional promise or innovative potential. This tiered structure is meant to give a solid launchpad to a broad cohort while reserving larger sums for ideas that could reshape the medium. Beyond the monetary component, each fellow will receive guidance from seasoned veterans of the industry.
The mentorship model is a core pillar of the program: experienced professionals will share insights on design, production, business strategy, and creative problem‑solving. Importantly, the foundation guarantees that fellows retain full ownership of any intellectual property they develop. They are free to seek publishing deals, platform partnerships, or self‑distribution, with Nova offering introductions and networking opportunities to facilitate those connections.
Applications will open in December and will be open to graduates from the class of 2026 and 2027 who have completed one of thirteen partner university programs spread across eight nations. The list of participating institutions includes Germany’s TH Köln, Australia’s RMIT University, France’s CNAM‑ENJMIN, Scotland’s Abertay University, and a 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 interactive media, game design, and related disciplines. Both Cerny and Keighley are personally underwriting the foundation with multi‑million‑dollar contributions and have pledged to continue investing as the organization expands.
Cerny, best known as the lead architect behind the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 consoles, brings a technical pedigree, while Keighley, the long‑standing host of The Game Awards, Summer Game Fest, and Opening Night Live, adds a deep understanding of industry trends and community building. "Nova is philanthropy: we aren't taking equity or looking to recoup the grants," Keighley told 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 commitment to artistic freedom rather than commercial exploitation. To run the operation, 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 outreach, and grant administration is expected to streamline the selection process and ensure transparent distribution of funds. The initiative has also attracted support from notable creators.
Josef Fares, the director behind critically acclaimed titles such as It Takes Two and Split Fiction, has pledged a personal donation and pledged ongoing assistance. "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 articulated a broader artistic vision for the program, describing games as "an artistic medium" that can convey profound experiences.
He cited examples like Neva, Abzu, Gorogoa, Stray, and Outer Wilds—titles that have been lauded for their storytelling, aesthetic innovation, and emotional resonance—as the type of work Nova hopes to enable. By providing resources to developers who might otherwise struggle to find funding, the foundation aims to expand the diversity of voices and ideas within the gaming landscape. Keighley's inspiration for the fellowship model draws from several personal and historical sources. He referenced his own unsuccessful attempt to secure a Rhodes Scholarship, the prestige of the MacArthur Foundation’s "genius grants," and the influence of Jenova Chen—USC alumnus and creator of landmark games Flower and Journey.
These references highlight a desire to replicate the transformative impact that generous, non‑reciprocal funding can have on an individual's creative trajectory. In practice, the Nova Games Foundation will operate as a conduit for both capital and mentorship.
Fellows will submit detailed proposals outlining their game concepts, development timelines, budget allocations, and artistic goals. A panel of industry experts, including Cerny, Keighley, and other advisory members, will evaluate submissions based on criteria such as originality, feasibility, and potential cultural impact. Successful applicants will receive their grant in installments tied to project milestones, ensuring accountability while allowing flexibility. The broader gaming community has responded positively to the announcement, viewing the foundation as a needed counterbalance to the increasingly commercialized funding landscape dominated by venture capital and publisher advances.
By removing equity expectations, Nova positions itself as a safe haven for experimental and auteur‑driven projects that might not fit traditional business models. Looking ahead, the foundation plans to track the outcomes of its fellows, publishing case studies and post‑mortems that showcase both successes and lessons learned. This transparency aims to inspire other philanthropists and institutions to adopt similar models, ultimately fostering an ecosystem where artistic risk‑taking is encouraged and financially viable.
In summary, the Nova Games Foundation represents a significant step toward democratizing game development funding. Through substantial grants, mentorship, and a commitment to preserving creative ownership, Mark Cerny, Geoff Keighley, and their partners are laying the groundwork for a new wave of innovative, artistically driven games that could shape the medium for years to come.