Applications are now being taken for round 6 of the UK Games Fund. Round 6 is open to all UK-based game developers with less than 50 employees who are developing early-stage projects.
Applicants can apply for an initial support package valued at £10,000 (including £5,000 of grant funding) to refine and improve pitching skills, whilst also developing a playable demo for showcasing at a major consumer games show in the Autumn.
A further opportunity to pitch in-person to the UK Games Fund will be provided at the Autumn show, where successful teams can secure an additional grant of up to £20,000.
Support and Opportunity
An initial support package will be provided to the value of £10,000 of cash and in-kind support comprising:
- An award of £5,000 paid in two £2,500 installments (the first in June, the second in August)
- Involvement in UK Games Fund community of funded companies, along with pitch guidance and informative webinar sessions
- Face-to-face meetings in July to explore your pitch with the UK Games Fund team (plus invited publishers, platform holders, and investors)
- An opportunity to showcase your project at a large-scale consumer games show in Autumn this year
Supported applicants who participate in the showcase at the consumer games show in the Autumn will also be required to pitch for further funding from the UK Games Fund.
- Pitches will take place in a private meeting room at the show
- Grants of up to £20,000 from the UK Games Fund will be available
- These grants must be spent between November 2020 and March 2021
Some pre-approved accommodation costs will be covered for the key events mentioned above where attendance is required. This is at the discretion of the UK Games Fund, and will be limited to a fixed number of team members.
Who should apply?
The standard programme is designed to support early-stage projects that need further time for the development of ideas and pitching materials. Participation in the consumer games show later in the year provides a clear deadline, as well as the opportunity to gain all-important feedback from the public and industry, while also meeting publishers and funders who regularly attend the event.
In your application you will be expected to be able to clearly explain the benefit that this programme will bring to your project and company.
This may differ depending on your circumstances:
- Smaller companies and newly formed teams frequently have a need for early stage funding, support, and visibility – but beyond simple development goals you should have an eye on what the next step is in terms of the business, and how UK Games Fund can help get you there, or
- More established companies and teams will need to show a direct benefit or opportunity they might not otherwise be able to pursue – perhaps the help would support growth of a new project team or work in a new area, or perhaps mitigate specific risks around a new project or IP.
Games that are already in full-scale development (or where the majority of funding is already secure) may not be appropriate for this programme – if in doubt then send a short paragraph about the project and UK Games Fund will endeavour to help.
