Federal Games Funding | Apply now!

09.01.2025

The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK) has launched the call for funding for the new "Federal Games Funding". This funding guideline offers players in the games sector the opportunity to implement their creative ideas and projects - with targeted financial support.

This funding guideline promotes the development of games. These respond to user input, serve educational and/or entertainment purposes and are intended for publication.

Object of funding

The following development stages of a game are eligible for funding:

Prototypes
production

In the current funding call, applications can only be submitted on a cost basis (AZK). Necessary and directly project-related costs are eligible for funding. These include in particular

Personnel costs: for employees working directly on the project (unless otherwise funded),
Rights of use: for protected names, third-party works (assets) and other intangible goods used in the game,
Subcontractor orders: up to 50% of own personnel costs (incl. overheads/flat-rate costs),
Feedback costs: e.g. for trade fair appearances, community management, beta tests or the creation of trailers,
Travel costs: necessary, project-specific travel,
Legal advice: costs for project-specific legal advice and securing intellectual property rights,
Server and hardware costs: if these go beyond the usual workplace equipment.

Basic equipment such as office rent, office communication, software licenses (e.g. for game engines or middleware) and workplace equipment are compensated in accordance with ANBest-P costs.

Recipients of funding

Only companies in the commercial sector that are responsible for managing and shaping the development of the game are eligible to apply (exception: collaborative and co-productions).

Grants

The eligible development expenditure or costs for a project must amount to at least EUR 300,000. The funding rate is max. 25% for large companies, max. 45% for SMEs and max. 50% for start-ups. The maximum grant is 8 million euros.

Deadline for funding call

This call for funding is valid from December 30, 2024 and is limited in time until the publication of a new call for funding, but at the latest - subject to the availability of budget funds - until December 31, 2025.