PlayStation’s lead system architect, Mark Cerny, has announced he is nearing the end of his career and is establishing a new initiative to support the next generation of game developers. Cerny has partnered with The Game Awards creator Geoff Keighley to launch The Nova Games Foundation, a nonprofit program aimed at providing significant financial and mentorship opportunities to recent game design graduates.
The foundation plans to award approximately 20 graduates per year with six-figure grants, intended to help them kickstart their careers. Beyond the initial funding, recipients will also be eligible for up to an additional $500,000 in support for projects that demonstrate exceptional progress, based on the achievement of development milestones. Cerny and Keighley revealed the program in an interview, emphasizing its long-term philanthropic goals rather than commercial investment.
"I’m nearing the end of my career,” Cerny stated. “I’m not done yet, but paying it forward—in the best way possible—is very much on my mind these days.” Keighley echoed this sentiment, noting his own desire to contribute to the industry without direct commercial involvement. "Nova is philanthropy: 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,” he explained.
The initiative has already secured participation from notable figures, including Josef Fares, founder of Hazelight Studios. Participating universities include NYU and USC, with 11 other global institutions also involved. The first cohort of fellows will be drawn from the graduating classes of 2026 and 2027 from these universities, with applications opening in December.