PlayStation lead system architect Mark Cerny is “nearing the end of [his] career,” though he isn’t quite done just yet.
During a conversation with Game File’s Stephen Totilo, PlayStation lead system architect Mark Cerny discussed the Nova Games Foundation, a new philanthropic initiative he has launched alongside Geoff Keighley. The project aims to support the next generation of game creators through substantial grants and mentorship, with Cerny viewing the effort as a way to give back to the industry after decades of work in games.
“I’m nearing the end of my career,” Cerny told Game File. “I’m not done yet, but paying it forward—in the best way possible—is very much on my mind these days.” He has spent roughly 45 years in the games industry and is best known in recent years for serving as the lead architect behind the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. Rather than focusing on commercial investment, however, Nova is designed as a standalone philanthropic project.
The foundation plans to provide 100,000 US Dollar grants to 20 young game designers each year. Around a quarter of the recipients could become eligible for up to an additional 500,000 US Dollars to support particularly promising projects. Developers will retain ownership of their games and will not be required to work with particular publishers or platforms.
Cerny and Keighley have personally made multi-million-dollar donations to establish Nova and hope other industry figures will contribute. Among those already supporting the initiative is Josef Fares, founder of Hazelight and the creator of It Takes Two and Split Fiction.
The foundation grew from Cerny and Keighley’s friendship and their recurring conversations about how to help aspiring game directors establish themselves in an increasingly difficult industry. The former said the grants will focus on games with “artistic, literary and societal value,” reflecting his preference for smaller, distinctive experiences.
