Mark Cerny, the renowned lead architect behind the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, and Geoff Keighley, the celebrated 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 nurture the next generation of video‑game creators by offering substantial financial backing, mentorship, and industry connections. According to a report from Game File, the foundation will award $100,000 grants to twenty promising designers annually. Approximately one‑quarter of those recipients will qualify for an extra tranche of up to $500,000 for projects that demonstrate exceptional promise or ambition.
The grants are intended to give young developers the freedom to experiment without the pressure of immediate commercial returns. One of the core pillars of the program is mentorship. Each fellow will be paired with seasoned veterans from the gaming industry, allowing them to receive guidance on design, production, and business strategy. Importantly, the fellows retain full ownership of their intellectual property, meaning they can later negotiate publishing deals or platform agreements on their own terms.
Nova Games will act as a facilitator, making introductions to potential partners and helping creators navigate the complex landscape of game distribution. Applications will open in December and will be open to graduates from the class of 2026 and 2027 who have completed one of the thirteen partner university programs spread across eight countries. Some of the participating institutions include TH Köln in Germany, RMIT University in Australia, Cnam‑Enjmin in France, Abertay University in Scotland, and the U.S.
collaboration between New York University and the University of Southern California. These schools were selected for their strong curricula in interactive media, game design, and related disciplines. Both Cerny and Keighley are personally financing the foundation with multi‑million‑dollar contributions and have pledged to continue investing as the organization expands.
Keighley emphasized the philanthropic nature of Nova, stating, "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 profit.
The leadership team includes John Maconga as executive director and former Game Developers Conference director Ashley Corrigan as head of grants. Their combined experience in event organization, grant administration, and community building is expected to streamline the selection process and ensure that funds are allocated efficiently. Additionally, acclaimed director Josef Fares—known for It Takes Two and Split Fiction—has pledged both a monetary donation and ongoing support for the initiative. 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 adds credibility and highlights the broader industry backing for the foundation.
Cerny articulated a clear artistic vision for the program, describing games as an "artistic medium" that deserves the same level of patronage traditionally reserved for the fine arts. He cited several indie titles that have pushed the boundaries of narrative, aesthetics, and interactivity—such as Neva, Abzu, Gorogoa, Stray, and Outer Wilds—as exemplars of the type of work Nova hopes to enable. These games are celebrated for their innovative design, emotional depth, and the way they challenge conventional gameplay mechanics.
Keighley's inspiration for the fellowship model stems from a blend of personal experience and admiration for other grant programs. He recalled his own unsuccessful bid for a Rhodes Scholarship, which sparked a desire to create opportunities for talented individuals who might otherwise be overlooked. He also referenced the MacArthur Foundation's "genius grants" and the achievements of Jenova Chen—USC alumnus and creator of Flower and Journey—as benchmarks for how generous, no‑strings‑attached funding can catalyze groundbreaking artistic work.
In practice, the Nova Games Foundation aims to fill a gap in the current ecosystem where many promising developers struggle to secure capital without relinquishing creative control. By offering sizable, equity‑free grants, the program reduces the financial risk for innovators and encourages them to pursue bold, unconventional ideas. The mentorship component ensures that recipients are not left to navigate the industry alone; instead, they gain access to a network of seasoned professionals who can advise on everything from prototype development to marketing strategies.
The foundation’s long‑term goal is to build a sustainable pipeline of high‑quality, artistically driven games that enrich the medium as a whole. By supporting creators early in their careers, Nova hopes to foster a ripple effect: successful alumni will eventually become mentors themselves, perpetuating a cycle of generosity and creative excellence.
Over time, the initiative could help diversify the types of stories told in games, broaden representation, and push technological boundaries. Overall, the Nova Games Foundation represents a bold experiment in game development philanthropy. It blends substantial financial support, mentorship, and a commitment to artistic integrity, all while allowing creators to maintain ownership of their work. As the first cohort of fellows begins to emerge, the industry will be watching closely to see how this model influences the future of independent game creation and whether it can inspire similar efforts worldwide.