PlayStation architect Mark Cerny says he’s “nearing the end” of his career and wants to pay it forward before he steps away, so he’s partnered with The Game Awards creator Geoff Keighley to announce a new fellowship program for game design graduates called the The Nova Games Foundation, with a goal of awarding 20 graduates per year a six-figure grant.
Cerny and Keighley spoke to Game File to reveal the nonprofit program, which aims to run for decades, not just years, and promises mentorship to fellowship recipients in addition to the “no-strings” $100,000 grants. The beneficiaries of these awards can earn up to an additional half-million dollars “for projects that are shaping up particularly well.” Those determinations will be made based on achieving development milestones.
“I’m nearing the end of my career,” Cerny told Game File’s Stephen Totilo. “I’m not done yet, but paying it forward—in the best way possible—is very much on my mind these days.” Keighley added, “I’ve always wanted to give back, but given my role in the industry, I’ve never felt it appropriate to commercially invest in games. I’ve never owned stock in a game company or taken a financial stake in a game. 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.”
Hazelight founder and game director on hit two-player co-op games A Way Out (which we loved), It Takes Two (we adored that one too), and Split Fiction (yup, you guessed it: we think it rocks) Josef Fares has already indicated his participation via donation and mentorship. Meanwhile, NYU and USC are two of 13 universities from around the world that will be part of the program. The first recipients will be from the classes of 2026 and 2027 from these universities, and they can begin applying in December of this year.
