Games Production and Development Program

The Games Production and Development Program supports ACT based studios and creators to develop and produce digital games with strong creative and commercial potential.

Funding is available for both early stage development work such as prototypes and vertical slices, and for full scale production.

The program aims to strengthen local games businesses, support sustainable studio growth and increase the number of ACT made games reaching national and global players.

Available Funding

Phase 1 Development
Up to $30,000 for concept development, prototyping, vertical slice creation, narrative design and commercial planning.
Phase 2 Production
Up to $100,000 for full scale game production, asset creation, coding, level design and quality assurance.

Both phases are non-recoupable grants. Applicants must demonstrate a 1:2 Qualifying ACT Expenditure (QACTE).

Application Round Dates

Round 1:

TV & Film, and Games Only – CLOSED

Round 2:

Applications Open: 11 January 2027

Applications Close: 19 March 2027

Round 3:

Applications Open: 12 July 2027

Applications Close: 17 September 2027

Who Can Apply

The program supports both individuals and companies.

Applicants must:

Have an active ABN

Be ACT based or demonstrate clear ACT economic benefit

Hold the rights required to develop and release the game

Have meaningful creative and or financial control

Have the capacity and resources to deliver the proposed work

Meet Screen Canberra’s Terms of Trade

Individuals must also:

Be at least 18

Be Australian citizens or permanent residents

Not be full time students

Be ACT based or engage at least two ACT based key creatives

Companies must also:

Be incorporated in Australia

Be ACT based or be genuine co producers with an ACT based company, or meet the minimum ACT spend requirement

Not be gambling companies or educational institutions

Project Requirements

Projects must:

Be digital games intended for commercial release
Be fully digital and not hybrid or physical games
Demonstrate clear creative and commercial potential
Include a realistic scope, timeline and budget
Meet the required QACTE ratio
Provide evidence of market understanding and audience
Hold clear chain of title and underlying rights

The following are not eligible:

Projects developed primarily by full time students
Advertising or promotional games
Gambling or gambling simulation games
Projects that may have difficulty receiving Australian classification
Games built around exploitative pay to win or play to earn mechanics
Applications submitted more than twice without significant change

Full details are in the Games Development and Production Guidelines below.

Assessment Criteria

Applications are assessed on:

Economic Impact

Contribution to long term studio growth
Strength of commercial planning
Benefit to the ACT games sector

Creative Merit

Originality and clarity of the concept
Quality of the prototype, vertical slice or supporting materials

Viability

Realism of the budget and schedule
Team capability
Market awareness and audience potential

Applications involving First Nations content will be assessed by a First Nations assessor.

Assessment normally takes between 8 to 12 weeks.

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through the Screen Canberra SmartyGrants portal.

Applicants must provide:

A pitch video up to 3 minutes
A pitch deck outlining vision, gameplay and audience
A project plan up to four pages
CVs for team members
A finance plan and supporting documentation
A production or development budget
Rights documentation

All required materials must be included at submission. Incomplete applications cannot be assessed.

For full requirements, refer to the Games Production and Development Guidelines below.

First Nations Content

Projects involving First Nations stories, characters or cultural material must provide evidence of consultation and consent, and follow best practice cultural protocols.