Game Awards host Geoff Keighley and PlayStation architect Mark Cerny are establishing the Nova Games Foundation, a philanthropic initiative designed to support emerging game developers. The foundation will annually award grants totaling $2 million to assist new university graduates in launching their game projects.
Keighley stated that his involvement is purely philanthropic, emphasizing that Nova Games Foundation is not seeking equity or aiming to recoup grant money. "The return we’re hoping for is creative—helping new voices make games and find their footing," he told Game File. This initiative aims to provide a crucial financial bridge for aspiring designers who might otherwise struggle to bring their visions to fruition in a competitive industry.
The foundation is partnering with 13 university programs globally, including institutions like New York University, the University of Southern California, Abertay University in Scotland, Cnam-Enjmin in France, TH Köln in Germany, and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia. Each year, 20 students will be selected to receive grants. These awards will start at $100,000, with the potential to reach up to $500,000 for projects demonstrating exceptional promise, contingent on meeting development milestones.
Keighley and Cerny have personally contributed multi-million-dollar donations to establish the foundation, with plans for continued contributions and hope for further support from industry peers. The program is modeled after prestigious scholarships like the Rhodes Scholarships and MacArthur Foundation's "genius grants." Its stated aim is to fund projects of "artistic, literary and societal value," while also offering mentorship and guidance to help young developers build sustainable careers.
Applications are currently open to the graduating classes of 2026 and 2027. Keighley expressed a personal motivation for the endeavor, viewing it as a way to give back to the industry that has shaped his career and to support future generations, particularly as he has no children of his own. The long-term vision for the Nova Games Foundation is to grow into a substantial endowment over the next 10 to 20 years.