Key information
- Status: Open
- Grant amount: From $35,000 based on 10% of eligible Qualifying NSW Expenditure with a minimum spend of AU$350,000
- Application opened: 28 February 2025
- Application closes: 30 June 2025, 11:00 pm
Program objective
The objectives of the program are to:
- Accelerate the growth of the NSW digital games sector
- Enable NSW games companies to be internationally competitive, attract investment and grow employment
- Encourage international or interstate developers to locate studios or work in NSW
- Promote investment in skills development and infrastructure
- Attract and retain talent in NSW.
This program is administered by Screen NSW.
Eligibility
Who can apply
Please see the full guidelines on the Screen NSW website.
To be eligible for the Rebate the applicant must:
- Have an Australian Business Number (ABN), and
- Be the company that is either carrying out or is responsible for making the arrangements for the carrying out of all the activities in NSW that are related to the production of the game.
The applicant may be:
- A fully or partly NSW based digital game development company, or
- An international or interstate developer engaging a fully or partly NSW based game developer.
Only one company can apply for the Rebate for a particular game. If more than one NSW developer is working on the game, the company commissioning the development work will generally make the application.
Other government departments and agencies are not eligible to apply.
The applicant must not be in breach of any obligation under any funding agreement it has with the NSW Government including under this Rebate program.
Types of projects funded under this grant
Eligible games for the Rebate include:
- Games for entertainment purposes
- Games for any platform including console, desktop, tablet, mobile, VR/AR
- Multi-player and single-player games.
Games must be intended for public release.
A major update of an existing game is eligible if it meets the AU$350,000 threshold.
An applicant must submit an application to Screen NSW before commencing any eligible work for which the Rebate is sought. If production has already commenced on the game, only work carried out on or after the date of application will be eligible for the Rebate.
The exception is applications registered on or after (published date) and up until (six weeks from published date) where expenditure incurred on or after 16 October 2024 can count towards Qualifying NSW Expenditure to meet the minimum threshold of AU$350,000.
Types of projects not funded under this grant
Ineligible games include but are not limited to:
- Games involving gambling, for example games falling within the definition of ‘gambling service’ as defined in Section 4 of the Interactive Gambling Act, 2001 (Cth)
- Games involving ‘gambling’ and ‘unlawful game’ as defined in the Unlawful Gambling Act 1998 (NSW)
- Games developed for advertising or corporate marketing
- Games made for internal training purposes
- Curriculum material
- Games that are likely to be Refused Classification (classified RC) under the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995, the National Classification Code and the classification guidelines.
- Games that are not completely digital (board games or hybrid digital/physical games).
What your application needs to include
Prepare your application with this checklist
Applicants are required to complete an application form and submit requested information, which will include the games development budget for NSW, quotes from NSW suppliers (if applicable) and evidence the project is fully financed or can be financed using projected future revenue streams.
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
Applicants are required to complete an application form and submit requested information, which will include the games development budget for NSW, quotes from NSW suppliers (if applicable) and evidence the project is fully financed or can be financed using projected future revenue streams.
You should apply when the game is production-ready, with confirmed budget, schedule and funding arrangement (e.g. agreement with publisher) or realistic projections of future revenue that ensure the game can be developed to completion.
Once your application has been submitted, you will receive an email confirmation from our online grants system, SmartyGrants.
Applications are assessed as they are received, and in the order, they are received.
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: Secretary of the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport or their financial delegate
Step 1 – Eligibility review
Applications will be initially reviewed by the responsible Screen NSW program delivery team to ensure they meet eligibility requirements, and all required application information and materials have been submitted. If your application is not eligible, you will be advised by email within 14 business days of applying.
Step 2 – Internal assessment
If your application is eligible, the application will be evaluated by a panel of at least two Screen NSW staff against the Assessment Criteria outlined above which includes the track record of the applicant and team, and the extent to which the project furthers the objectives of the program.
The assessment process usually takes approximately 2 to 4 weeks but can be delayed when information is missing or incomplete from your application. The assessment timeframe is not measured from the date that you submit your application form but is measured from the time that Screen NSW has received all necessary details to assess your application against the program guidelines.
Step 3 – Recommendation & provisional approval decision
Following the assessment, Screen NSW will batch applications and make a recommendation to the Secretary of the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport or their financial delegate for consideration and final decision.
Please note this is provisional approval only. Screen NSW only assesses Qualifying NSW Expenditure at final acquittal stage. Final approval is subject to the conditions outlined in the Provisional Letter and the program guidelines.
Support and contact
Screen NSW PDV & Digital Games team (pdvgames@screen.nsw.gov.au)