Mark Cerny and Geoff Keighley launch university-linked fellowship

September 9, 2026 - 21:13

A new initiative called the Nova Games Foundation is set to provide major financial support to emerging talent in the video game industry. The program, co-founded by veteran designer Mark Cerny and industry host Geoff Keighley, will hand out six-figure grants to twenty young game designers every year.

The foundation is linked to several universities, though the exact partner schools have not been fully announced yet. The goal is to give early-career developers the freedom to work on their own projects without the usual pressure of commercial deadlines or studio budgets. Each grant is designed to cover living costs and development expenses for roughly a year, letting recipients focus entirely on creating a playable prototype or a full game.

Cerny, known for his work on console architecture and games like Marble Madness and Crash Bandicoot, said in a prepared statement that the industry often loses promising voices because they lack time and money. Keighley, who hosts the annual Game Awards ceremony, added that the foundation wants to build a bridge between academic learning and real-world production.

Applications are expected to open next spring. The selection process will involve a panel of veteran developers and faculty members from the linked universities. The first cohort of fellows will be announced in late 2025. While the program is not a direct hiring pipeline, the founders hope that the funded projects will lead to studio interest or publishing deals. The foundation also plans to host annual showcases where fellows can present their work to industry leaders.