Screen Australia Games Production Fund 2027: Up to A$100,000 for Australian Independent Studios — Opens 14 December

musicassociatio

3 days ago

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The Screen Australia Games Production Fund will run its next application round from 14 December 2026. It offers up to A$100,000 to qualifying Australian independent games studios to develop original games that already have an early-stage playable prototype and a credible production milestone ahead.

DEADLINE — The 2026/27 round is scheduled to open on 14 December 2026 and close at 5pm AEDT on Thursday 25 February 2027. As of 22 October 2026 it has not yet opened. Studios should use this advance period to confirm eligibility, polish their working prototype and prepare development budgets rather than submit to an older closed round.

FINANCIAL SCOPE — Projects must have budgets of up to A$500,000 at the time of applying. The funding cap is A$100,000. Depending on the project's stage, a significant milestone may be an Early Access release, finished game, public or private demo, internationally competitive vertical slice or a prototype ready for festival, museum, gallery or award consideration.

WHO CAN APPLY — The applicant must be an incorporated company carrying on business in Australia, with central management and control in Australia. It must have an Australian Business Number and be registered for GST where required. It must control the intellectual property and rights needed for its game. A simple individual freelancer, sole trader, public company or trust cannot apply under these criteria.

THE INDIE REQUIREMENT — The programme is directed at Australian independent gamemakers and studios, not a company controlled by a major international publisher. Full eligibility is defined by Screen Australia's Terms of Trade and programme-specific rules. A developer should not assume that an overseas registration or a foreign-owned entity will pass the Australian-company requirements.

WHY AN EXISTING PROTOTYPE MATTERS — Unlike Screen Australia's Emerging Gamemakers Fund, the Production Fund is intended for games that have reached the early playable-build stage. Applicants should show the mechanic, artistic vision, development progress, technical risks and how funding will deliver the next concrete milestone. A mood board without any prototype is unlikely to fit this production pathway.

EXPECTED APPLICATION MATERIALS — Prepare a playable build or substantial demonstration, milestone schedule, production budget, developer and producer credits, ownership or licensing documents, marketing and distribution strategy, community engagement and realistic plans for the game's art, animation, software engineering, accessibility and audio production.

HOW IT IS ASSESSED — Screen Australia assesses creative merit, production feasibility and each studio's strategic goals, along with the programme's formal criteria and available allocation. The maximum grant should never be interpreted as a guaranteed amount for every eligible company.

ABOUT THE ORGANISER — Screen Australia is Australia's national screen and digital games funding agency. Through both Emerging Gamemakers and Games Production it supports developers at different stages and publishes the corresponding guidance and awards.

OFFICIAL SOURCE — https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/fund/games-production-fund/ . Official closing-date calendar: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/funding-deadlines/ . Last checked 22 October 2026. Read all current guidelines before registration and use the linked SmartyGrants submission portal.