Mark Cerny and Geoff Keighley have jointly announced the creation of the Nova Games Foundation, a charitable fellowship initiative designed to provide financial support and mentorship to the next generation of video game designers. The foundation operates independently of The Game Awards, PlayStation, and any other corporate entity, positioning itself as a purely philanthropic effort aimed at nurturing fresh talent in the interactive entertainment industry.
According to a report from Game File, the Nova Games Foundation intends to award $100,000 grants to twenty promising designers each year. Approximately one‑quarter of those recipients will be eligible for an additional infusion of up to $500,000 for projects that demonstrate exceptional promise or innovative potential. This tiered funding model is meant to give creators both a solid seed investment and the opportunity for larger backing if their concepts prove particularly compelling. Beyond the monetary component, each fellow will receive direct mentorship from seasoned veterans of the gaming world.
The mentorship program is structured to give emerging developers access to industry insights, technical guidance, and strategic advice that would otherwise be difficult to obtain. Importantly, the fellows will retain full ownership of any intellectual property they create under the program, allowing them to negotiate publishing deals or platform partnerships on their own terms. Nova Games will act as a connector, leveraging its network to introduce fellows to potential publishers, distributors, and platform holders when the creators are ready to take that step.
Applications for the inaugural cohort will open in December and will be available to graduates from the class of 2026 and 2027 who have completed one of the thirteen partner university programs that span eight different countries. These partner institutions include TH Köln in Germany, RMIT University in Australia, Cnam‑Enjmin in France, Abertay University in Scotland, and the United States duo of New York University and the University of Southern California. By partnering with a diverse set of academic programs, Nova aims to capture a wide spectrum of cultural perspectives and design philosophies, enriching the global gaming landscape. Both Cerny and Keighley are committing substantial personal capital to the foundation.
Cerny, best known as the lead architect behind the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 consoles, and Keighley, the well‑known host of The Game Awards, Summer Game Fest, and Opening Night Live, have each pledged multi‑million‑dollar contributions. They have indicated that these initial investments are only the beginning, and that they intend to continue funding the foundation as it scales and demonstrates impact.
"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 statement underscores the foundation's core philosophy: success is measured not in financial returns but in the artistic and cultural contributions that emerging developers bring to the medium. To manage day‑to‑day operations, the foundation has appointed John Maconga as its executive director.
Additionally, former Game Developers Conference director Ashley Corrigan will oversee the grants program, ensuring that the selection process remains rigorous, transparent, and aligned with Nova’s mission. Notable industry figures have also thrown their support behind the initiative. Josef Fares, the director behind critically acclaimed titles such as It Takes Two and Split Fiction, has pledged both a monetary donation and ongoing advocacy for the program. "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 in a recent interview.
His endorsement highlights the broader industry enthusiasm for a model that empowers creators without imposing commercial constraints. Cerny articulated that the foundation’s ultimate goal is to treat games as an artistic medium deserving of the same kind of patronage historically afforded to music, visual arts, and literature. He cited examples like Neva, Abzu, Gorogoa, Stray, and Outer Wilds as works that embody the type of innovative, emotionally resonant experiences Nova hopes to facilitate.
These titles have been praised for their distinctive aesthetics, narrative depth, and experimental gameplay, serving as benchmarks for the kind of artistic ambition the fellowship seeks to nurture. Keighley's inspiration for the fellowship concept draws from several personal experiences and existing grant models.
He referenced his own unsuccessful bid for a Rhodes Scholarship, the prestige of the MacArthur Foundation’s "genius grants," and the career of Jenova Chen—USC graduate and creator of landmark games such as Flower and Journey—as key influences. By blending the rigor of academic scholarships with the creative freedom of artistic grants, Keighley envisions a program that can bridge the gap between formal education and real‑world game development.
In summary, the Nova Games Foundation represents a bold experiment in game development philanthropy. By offering substantial financial support, mentorship from industry leaders, and a commitment to preserving creators' ownership rights, the foundation aims to cultivate a new wave of innovative games that push the medium forward.
With the backing of high‑profile industry veterans and a clear focus on artistic excellence, Nova has the potential to become a catalyst for groundbreaking projects that might otherwise struggle to find funding in the conventional commercial landscape.