Games Production Fund

Games Production Fund is sponsored by Screen Australia. This fund offers flexible support to Australian independent gamemakers and games studios for projects that already have an early-stage prototype. It aims to assist studios in meeting their goals and establishing themselves in the international games landscape.

Games Production Fund - Screen Australia Skip to primary navigation The Games Production Fund offers flexible support to Australian independent gamemakers and games studios. The grant is aimed at projects that already have an early-stage prototype.

The program allows Screen Australia to respond to the varied needs of gamemakers at different career stages, providing direct funding that will assist studios in meeting their goals and establishing themselves in the international games landscape. Applicants must contextualise the milestone they are working towards and how this funding will help them achieve it in their applications.

Funding milestones include: Completion/release of a game Early Access release of a game Completion of a public or private demo (to release at a digital event, present at a physical event or pitch to publishers) Creating a vertical slice that is of global competitive quality that enables a team to access the international funding and pitching ecosystem Developing a playable prototype to a quality suitable for submission to an accolade signifying cultural impact , such as a notable award, showcase, festival, gallery or museum exhibit opportunity Any other significant goal, as defined by the applicant The program will run as a series of rounds from financial year 2023/24 until financial year 2026/27.

Important note : The text on this webpage provides a snapshot of the relevant information for this program/initiative. Applicants must read all detailed documentation available for download at the bottom of this page, including the program guidelines , before applying.

Key Dates Deadline 5pm AEST Thursday 27 August 2026 Decision & Notification Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application approximately 12 weeks from the deadline date. Fund Amount Up to $100,000 Enquiries Email: games@screenaustralia.

gov.au Freecall: 1800 507 901 More Information The next round opens 14 December 2026, with a deadline of 25 February 2027 Expand all content Available Funding The Games Production Fund provides grants of up to $100,000 to support the production of original Australian independent games with budgets of up to $500,000 at the time of applying, to take the game to a significant milestone of its development.

All applicants and projects must meet Screen Australia’s Terms of Trade and any general eligibility or other requirements listed on the agency’s website (see Information for Applicants and Information for Recipients ).

To be eligible, an applicant must: be, at the time of application, an incorporated company carrying on business in Australia, with its central management and control in Australia; have an Australian Business Number (ABN); be registered for the purposes of GST if required by law; and control the rights necessary to carry out the project, meaning that it must have clear chain of title.

Other business structures, including sole traders, trusts and public companies, are not eligible. Sole traders are instead encouraged to consider applying for the Emerging Gamemakers Fund if they otherwise meet the criteria of that program. For full eligibility information, including information about project eligibility, please refer to the attached guidelines.

Applicants need to create an account and submit an application via SmartyGrants . Applications for Games Production Fund must be submitted by 5pm AEDT/AEST on the Through the application form, applicants must: provide all the information requested and answer the application questions address all eligibility criteria and assessment criteria include all required supporting materials.

For full details on the application process, including required materials, please refer to the attached guidelines.

Applications are assessed based on the following four criteria, with examples of the relevant considerations listed for each: The level of originality and the quality of execution of the game and how compelling the overall experience is, as communicated through the prototype and application documents The ability of the game to effectively meet the studio’s strategic outcomes The scope of the project and how viable and realistic it is How timely and relevant the project is to industry and the studio’s strategic outcomes How realistic the budget and production plan are, whether workers are fairly compensated Whether the proposed team has the appropriate experience to execute their plans The extent to which funding will positively affect the studio’s proposed trajectory The commercial and/or cultural benefits the project provides to the Australian games landscape, and contribution to its quality and reputation Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility Where diverse groups are portrayed in the project, whether there is either appropriate representation in the creative team, or there has been meaningful collaboration and consultation with represented groups Whether there is Engagement with an audience that is typically under The alignment of the application with the equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility aims of the grant For full details on the assessment criteria and process, please refer to the attached guidelines.

Games Production Fund Guidelines Games Production Fund FAQs Games Production Trends Report Finance Plan and Budget template Strategic Outcomes template Screen Australia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work and recognises their continuous connection to culture, community, land, waters and territories.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website contains images, voices and names of people who have passed.