Mark Cerny and Geoff Keighley have teamed up to create the Nova Games Foundation, a charitable fellowship designed to provide financial backing and mentorship to up‑and‑coming talent in the video‑game industry. The initiative, which operates independently of The Game Awards and PlayStation, is set to distribute sizable grants to promising young designers, while also offering them access to seasoned professionals who can help guide their creative journeys.
According to a report from Game File, the foundation plans to allocate $100,000 to each of twenty selected designers annually. Approximately one‑quarter of those recipients will qualify for an additional award of up to $500,000 for projects that demonstrate exceptional potential or innovative concepts. This tiered funding structure is intended to give creators the flexibility to pursue ambitious ideas without the pressure of immediate commercial returns. Beyond the monetary component, Nova Games Foundation participants will receive mentorship from industry veterans.
This guidance is meant to help emerging developers navigate the complex landscape of game production, marketing, and distribution. Importantly, fellows will retain full ownership of their intellectual property, allowing them to negotiate publishing deals or platform partnerships on their own terms.
The foundation itself will act as a connector, facilitating introductions to publishers, platform holders, and other key stakeholders who can help bring a project to market. Application windows open in December and will be available to graduates from the class of 2026 and 2027 who have completed programs at thirteen partner universities spread across eight countries.
Some of the affiliated institutions include TH Köln in Germany, RMIT University in Australia, Cnam‑Enjmin in France, Abertay University in Scotland, and the joint program offered by New York University and the University of Southern California in the United States. By targeting a diverse set of academic environments, the foundation hopes to tap into a wide range of cultural perspectives and design philosophies. Both Cerny and Keighley are personally contributing multi‑million‑dollar sums to seed the foundation, and they have indicated that they intend to continue investing as the program expands. Cerny, renowned for his role as lead architect of the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 consoles, brings a deep technical background, while Keighley, the charismatic host of The Game Awards, Summer Game Fest, and Opening Night Live, adds a high‑profile public presence and a passion for celebrating creative achievement.
"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 philosophy underscores the foundation's commitment to fostering artistic expression rather than pursuing financial gain. To manage day‑to‑day operations, the foundation has hired John Maconga as its executive director. In addition, former Game Developers Conference director Ashley Corrigan has been appointed head of grants, bringing extensive experience in evaluating and supporting indie projects.
Notable industry figures have also pledged support; Josef Fares, known for directing It Takes Two and Split Fiction, has contributed a donation and offered his endorsement. "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.
His statement reflects a broader sentiment among seasoned developers who recognize the importance of nurturing fresh talent. Cerny articulated the foundation's artistic mission by citing games that have pushed the medium forward.
He referenced titles such as Neva, Abzu, Gorogoa, Stray, and Outer Wilds as exemplars of the kind of innovative, emotionally resonant experiences Nova hopes to enable. These games are celebrated for their distinctive aesthetics, thoughtful storytelling, and experimental mechanics, illustrating the diverse possibilities that video games can offer as an art form. Keighley's inspiration for the fellowship model draws from several personal and historical sources.
He mentioned his own unsuccessful bid for a Rhodes Scholarship, the prestige of the MacArthur Foundation's "genius grants," and the work of Jenova Chen—a USC graduate whose games Flower and Journey have become landmarks in expressive, meditative game design. By blending these influences, Keighley aims to create a program that not only provides financial aid but also cultivates an environment where creators can take artistic risks.
The Nova Games Foundation arrives at a time when the industry is increasingly recognizing games as a legitimate artistic medium. With rising interest in indie development, diverse narratives, and experimental gameplay, there is a growing demand for resources that empower creators who might otherwise struggle to secure funding.
By offering substantial grants without demanding equity, the foundation removes a major barrier that often forces developers to compromise their vision in order to attract investors. Moreover, the mentorship component addresses another critical need: knowledge transfer. Many young designers graduate with strong technical skills but lack practical experience in areas such as project management, marketing, or navigating publishing contracts.
By pairing fellows with veterans who have successfully brought games to market, Nova helps bridge that gap, increasing the likelihood that funded projects will reach a broader audience. The global reach of the partner universities also ensures that the foundation will support a culturally diverse cohort of developers. Games that reflect a wide range of cultural backgrounds can enrich the medium, offering players fresh perspectives and stories that resonate across different regions.
This international focus aligns with the increasingly global nature of the gaming market, where titles can achieve success on multiple continents simultaneously. In summary, the Nova Games Foundation, spearheaded by industry luminaries Mark Cerny and Geoff Keighley, seeks to nurture the next wave of game creators through generous financial awards, mentorship from seasoned professionals, and a commitment to artistic freedom. By targeting recent graduates from a curated list of universities worldwide, the program aims to identify talent early and provide the tools needed to turn innovative ideas into polished, market‑ready experiences.
As the foundation grows, its impact could be felt across the industry, encouraging more creators to pursue bold, original projects that push the boundaries of what games can achieve.