If you're building a game in 2025–2026, here are three Screen Australia programs worth bookmarking: Applications open: 16 December 2025 Deadline: 5pm AEDT Thursday 5 March 2026 🔹 Games Production Fund: Support for studios ready to take their game into full production: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/funding-and-support/online/games/games-production-fund 🔹 Emerging Gamemakers Fund: Perfect for early-career devs or teams working on their first major title: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/funding-and-support/online/games/emerging-gamemakers-fund 🔹 Future Leaders Delegation: A program for rising talent looking to access global markets, mentorship, and industry networks: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/funding-and-support/online/games/future-leaders-delegation We’re here to support you, whether that’s sharing opportunities, helping you understand eligibility, or guiding your production workflows so you’re ready when funding opens.

To help everyone connect and network effectively, new members are asked to post a short, formal introduction in the #introductions channel. Use the template below to structure your intro: 1. Full Name and Pronouns – e.g. “Hi, I’m Alex Johnson (they/them).” 2. Current Role or Title – Are you a student, indie developer, producer, or something else? Mention any relevant experience. 3. Interests in Gaming – Briefly describe why you joined (e.g. learning production, game pipelines, art, animation, connecting with the community). 4. Favorite Game or Genre – Optional, but helps others get to know your tastes. 5. Goals for This Community/Course – What do you hope to gain from participating? Example: Hi, I’m Sam Gamgee (he/him), a junior producer at IndieFun Studio. I joined this community to deepen my understanding of agile project management and learn how other teams tackle vertical slice planning. I’m a fan of action‑adventure games like Horizon Zero Dawn and God of War. My goal here is to share experiences, pick up best practices for cross-disciplinary collaboration, and help others where I can. Head to the Introduction Channel <=

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If you're an indie developer keeping an eye out for equity-free funding opportunities, here’s some important news:Dangen Entertainment has officially transitioned their previous grant competition into a new platform called Pitches. This update matters because Dangen has been one of the few private publishers offering non-recoupable, no-strings-attached monetary grants to help indie teams push prototypes, polish vertical slices, or get ready for publishers. Their previous grant rounds were famous for awarding $25,000 / $15,000 / $10,000 to selected indie titles — with no obligation to sign a publishing deal. Now, with Pitches, they’re taking a more streamlined and developer-friendly approach. 💡 Why This Is Good News for Indie Developers 1. No More Grant Deadlines — Submit Anytime The old system ran specific annual submission periods. Pitches allows ongoing submissions, which means you can pitch when your prototype or vertical slice is actually in a good state. 2. Still Developer-Friendly, Still Indie-Focused Dangen has built a reputation for supporting small teams and experimental projects.That ethos continues with Pitches — focusing on: - High-quality indie games - Unique visual direction - Strong mechanics or narratives - Market potential without needing AAA budgets 📝 What You Need to Submit The new portal asks for a few essentials: - Your game description - Visual materials / screenshots - Trailer or prototype footage - Playable build if available - Team background - Scope + timeline 🎯 Should You Submit? You should consider applying to Dangen’s Pitches if: - You have a polished prototype or strong vertical slice - You need financial support to push the project forward - You want a chance at publishing but don’t want commitment upfront - You’re building a game that fits well within the indie space (2D, pixel art, narrative-driven, action titles, etc.) - You want visibility from an established indie-focused publisher If your project is still early or purely conceptual, it may be better to refine your slice before submitting

If you’re a European game developer, studio, or XR creator... this one’s worth your attention. 📰 What’s going on The European funding scheme CREA‑MEDIA 2026 Video Games & Immersive Content Development is now open for applications. It’s designed to support video games and immersive content (narrative games, interactive VR/AR/immersive experiences) — in the development/pre-production phase only (concepts, prototypes, vertical slices, first-playable builds). - 💶 Grant Amount: up to €200,000 per project - 🗓️ Deadline: 11 February 2026, 17:00 (CET) - 🎯 Eligible Projects: original & innovative video games or immersive interactive content with strong storytelling or gameplay, aimed at commercial exploitation on PC, consoles, mobile, VR/AR, etc. - ✔️ Key Priorities: high creative value; cross-border/international potential; retention of rights; sustainable, inclusive & diverse production approach (gender balance, inclusion, diversity) ✅ Why It Matters for Indie Devs & Small Studios • Reduce Financial Risk Early Game development — especially in pre-production — requires time, experimentation, and iteration. This grant reduces the financial burden upfront. • Validate Your Concept & Build Prototype Without Pressure Instead of budgeting long sprints or external funding, you get a buffer to build a vertical slice or proof-of-concept that can attract publishers or investors later. • Retain Creative Control & IP Ownership The scheme encourages European developers to keep their intellectual property, which remains with your studio. This means you maintain long-term upside rather than surrendering IP rights to external publishers. • Boost Credibility for Partnerships or Funding A funded, grant-backed prototype carries extra weight when pitching to publishers, collaborators, or investors — the grant is like a “stamp of confidence.” • Perfect Fit for Experimental, Narrative, or Immersive Projects If you’re building a VR experience, an innovative mechanic, or a title targeting niche audiences — this support is aimed at those kinds of high-ambition, high-creativity projects.