The Game Awards Host and PlayStation Engineer to Invest Millions in New Generation of Game Developers

Geoff Keighley and Mark Cerny are preparing to make a major financial contribution.

The Game Awards host Geoff Keighley and PlayStation 5 architect Mark Cerny have teamed up to launch the Nova Games Foundation, a charitable fund that will provide financial support to novice developers.

According to Game File, Keighley and Cerny have already made multi-million dollar donations to establish the foundation and intend to continue funding it. The Nova Games Foundation will not take an equity stake in the projects it funds, as the creators want solely to help young developers realize their ideas.

The foundation is partnering with 13 university programs around the world, including New York University, the University of Southern California, Abertay University, Cnam-Enjmin, TH Köln, and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. Each year, 20 graduates will be eligible to receive support.

Grant amounts will range from $100,000 to $500,000. The most promising projects will receive maximum funding, though additional funds will be distributed as development milestones are met.

The foundation is currently accepting applications from 2026 graduates as well as upcoming 2027 graduates. Priority will be given to projects with high artistic, literary, and social value. In addition to financial backing, participants can count on mentorship and assistance with transitioning to a full-fledged career in the gaming industry.

Keighley noted that he never wanted to make commercial investments in games due to his position in the industry. According to him, the Nova Games Foundation is intended to be a purely philanthropic initiative, and the “return” on the investment will be the emergence of new creators and original games.

According to Game File, the idea for the foundation was partly inspired by initiatives such as the Rhodes Scholarships and MacArthur Foundation grants. Keighley and Cerny aim to establish a long-term fund that can grow and support developers over the next 10 to 20 years.