Mark Cerny and Geoff Keighley launch Nova Games Foundation

PlayStation architect Mark Cerny and The Game Awards creator Geoff Keighley have announced the launch of the Nova Games Foundation, a non-profit initiative designed to support the next generation of game developers.

As Cerny approaches the end of his career, the foundation aims to provide significant financial support and mentorship to recent game design graduates. The program plans to award 20 fellows annually with “no-strings” grants of $100,000. Additionally, developers can qualify for up to $500,000 in extra funding for projects that meet specific development milestones.

The foundation operates as a purely philanthropic endeavor; it will not take equity, ownership, or seek to recoup the grants. Keighley emphasized that the goal is to help new voices find their footing in the industry without commercial interest. The program is partnered with 13 universities globally, including NYU and USC, and applications are expected to open in December for the classes of 2026 and 2027.