Key information
- Status: Open
- Grant amount: Up to $30,000 as a grant.
- Application opened: 9 February 2026
- Application closes: 23 March 2026, 2:00 pm
Program objective
The objectives of the Program are to:
- Support NSW game creators to advance early concept original digital games IPs to reach the next stage of development
- Assist successful applicants to prepare their project to raise additional finance for full scale development
- Encourage sustainable growth for the NSW games sector and a diverse pipeline of game talent in NSW.
This program is administered by Screen NSW.
Eligibility
Who can apply
Please see the Screen NSW website for the full guidelines.
All applicants need to fulfil the following criteria:
- If an individual, the applicant must be a NSW resident (i.e., lived and operated in NSW for at least six months immediately before the application)
- If a company, the applicant must be incorporated in Australia and taken to be registered in NSW, have their central management and control in Australia and carry out business in Australia
- Applicants must have an ABN
- Applicants must not be full-time secondary or tertiary students; or employing students who are currently studying games, or a field related to games. Part-time students are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
- Applicants who are an employee of a Federal or state or territory government screen agency are not eligible to apply
- An applicant cannot be a licensee of a service under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (Cth) or a related body corporate of such a licensee (as defined in the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth))
- Applicants must have the right to carry out the project, for example, own or have the licenses of any relevant copyright. If the application is based on a third-party underlying work, applicants must have an appropriate option agreement. Applicants must be able to demonstrate they have the necessary rights if required by providing chain of title documents.
- Applicants must have a project team member with a key creative credit on at least one game that has been released to the general public e.g. Steam, itch.io
- There can be only one application for a particular game. If more than one NSW developer is working on the project, a joint application for the game will need to be made.
Types of projects funded under this grant
Eligible games must be:
- Intended for public release
- At concept or early-stage development
- Completely digital.
Eligible games for funding include:
- Games for entertainment purposes
- Games for any platform including console, desktop, tablet, mobile, VR/AR
- Multi-player and single-player games.
What your application needs to include
Prepare your application with this checklist
Applicants are required to complete an application form and submit project documentation including:
- Project details (e.g., early design documentation, concept art)
- Creative pitch presentation
- Project plan with an estimated development timeline, finance and budget plan
- CVs of team members including information about you, your team
- and any other supporting documentation.
Address the eligibility criteria
Each applicant, as part of an application response, must confirm that they meet the eligibility criteria.
Applicants that do not address the eligibility criteria in full may be excluded from the application process at the department's discretion.
Start the application
Screen NSW uses the SmartyGrants platform for submission of all applications. Applications made using any other format will not be accepted. Please note you will receive a SmartyGrants acknowledgement of submission.
A preview of the application form can be viewed on the SmartyGrants portal.
Note: If you are a new applicant to SmartyGrants, you will need to register and create a password. If you are already registered, you can log in with your existing username and password.
Apply now
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: Executive Director Screen NSW
Eligibility
Applications will be initially reviewed by Screen NSW to ensure they meet eligibility requirements, and all application materials are acceptable.
Shortlisting
After eligibility is confirmed, applications will be reviewed for shortlisting by Screen NSW. A shortlisting meeting will consider all eligible applications and prepare a shortlist of applications for further consideration by the assessment panel.
Assessment
Shortlisted applicants will be reviewed at an assessment meeting which will include a quorum of 3 assessors (including at least one Screen NSW digital game expert and external industry specialists) along with a department probity representative.
Evaluations will consider the assessment criteria, the availability of funds at Screen NSW, the variety and representation of the original IP and the applicant's need for Screen NSW funds. Please note that funding allocation follows a competitive process.
Support and contact
Screen NSW PDV & Digital Games team - pdvgames@screen.nsw.gov.au