On 18 July, the federal government published the second call for computer game funding. The good news: there is more money, fewer restrictions and new room for manoeuvre – even for larger studios. The bad news: If you want funding, you have to plan better, provide more extensive documentation and deliver more in terms of content. In addition to financing plans and business cases, aspects such as accessibility, USK labelling and the cultural value of a game are becoming more important. In short: the pot is bigger, but the bar is a little higher.
Which games are supported?
As before, prototypes and productions of digital games will be funded. The decisive factor is that the projects are realised in Germany – either completely or predominantly. The realisation can be carried out by the company’s own studio or partially outsourced, as long as the German connection is maintained. The funding pot is well filled, the cap per project is now a whopping 8 million euros.
Games with publisher deals, DLCs or mobile-only productions are also expressly permitted. Cross-platform titles, ports or extensive expansions (add-ons, standalone DLCs) also fall under the eligible formats. There are no restrictions regarding the game genre, the engine or platform used – the decisive factors are economic potential, cultural value and development status.
Which studios are eligible for funding?
Companies based in Germany are eligible to apply – regardless of whether they are indie developers or subsidiaries of international publishers. There is an additional explanation for foreign-controlled studios – funding is also possible here. If you are an SME, you must provide proof of this.
How much funding is possible per project?
The grant is no longer capped at small, medium or large projects – all applications go into a common pot. The upper limit per project is now 8 million euros. As before, funding is provided on a pro rata basis (usually 50 %) and on a cost basis, not an expenditure basis.
The overheads allowance now amounts to 60% (previously 40%) of the eligible personnel costs – a real plus point for studios with their own production facilities.
Brief overview: What is subsidised and what is not?
Eligible for funding are
- Developer salaries, fees, assets, engine or licence costs
- Subcontractors (max. 50% of personnel costs)
- Community tests, trade fairs, project-specific server costs
- USK tests, accessibility features
Not eligible for funding:
- Marketing, advertising, classic PR
- General office equipment, GmbH formation costs
- Retroactive costs prior to application
What else is eligible for funding?
Some interesting details that are often overlooked in practice:
- Server costs and live ops are explicitly eligible for funding – good news for online and live service games.
- Publisher investments do not exclude funding as long as there is enough “open financing”.
- Outsourcing is possible, but must remain proportionate. Local production is favoured, but is not a formal obligation.
- Exploitation proceeds remain with the studios – there are no repayment models.
What should be included in the application for games funding?
It’s not just about business plans and financial overviews. If you want funding, you have to show that your game is needed – from the perspective of the market and the federal government:
- Need for funding: what would not be possible without funding?
- Cultural contribution: Why is the game “valuable” – in terms of content, economy, technology?
- Accessibility: Productions must provide low-barrier options (e.g. subtitles, controllable font sizes).
- USK obligation: Every publicly accessible build needs a USK label – even on Steam or at a trade fair. In the event of changes or further developments within 3 years of release that could have an impact on the protection of minors, applicants must re-label.
The BMWE can help here with a corresponding checklist(available here).
What obligations do subsidised studios have?
Anyone who receives funding is obliged to comply with specific requirements – and should incorporate these into the project planning at an early stage.
- Logo obligation: The official funding logo must be clearly visible in the game itself, on the website, in trailers, in the credits and in all press and marketing materials.
- Obligation to provide proof: After project completion, a free, executable build and a video with real gameplay must be submitted. Without this proof, payment of the funding may be refused in whole or in part.
- Compliance requirements: Legally, developers must also plan ahead. The call for funding makes it clear that subsequent regulatory requirements – e.g. regarding loot boxes, monetisation or accessibility – must already be taken into account during development. Those who act negligently here risk having their funding reclaimed.
How should the application for games funding be submitted?
The application for federal games funding must be submitted purely digitally via the easy-Online portal. The process follows a fixed pattern – and keeping track of everything saves time and nerves.
- Mandatory funding consultation: Before an application can even be submitted, a consultation with the project management organisation DLR (German Aerospace Centre) is mandatory. The application will not be accepted without this preliminary discussion. It serves to clarify open questions and rule out avoidable errors in the procedure at an early stage.
- Application via easy-Online: Applications are submitted exclusively via the central funding portal https://foerderportal.bund.de. A digital application is generated there, which must be submitted either with a qualified electronic signature (qeS) or with a legally binding TAN procedure. The application must be complete and include all necessary attachments. In the case of incomplete applications, a grace period of 2 weeks is usually granted. If the deadline is not met, the application may be rejected for formal reasons or the persons concerned may not be recognised as eligible for funding.
- No project start before approval: Funding is only granted for projects that have not yet been started. A project start is only permitted from 1 October 2025 – unless an exemption (“early start of measures”) has been applied for and approved by DLR in advance. Anyone who starts without this authorisation will lose their entitlement to funding.
What is the timeline for applications for computer games funding?
- Start of funding: 01 August 2025
- Earliest project start: 01 October 2025
- End of funding: 31 December 2026 at the latest
Important reminder: A consultation with the project organiser is mandatory before the final application! So if you want to submit in August, you should have all the documents ready by June at the latest.
Conclusion
The new call is a strong signal that the federal government is serious about games funding. However, if you want to benefit from the up to 8 million euros, you need to be well prepared: transparent, well-planned and with clear added value in terms of cultural policy.
Anyone who has questions about application strategy, contracts with publishers or accessible game design is welcome to contact us. We support developers with the application process and everything that goes with it – pragmatically, accurately and without gimmicks.