Media Foundation NRW Funds 16 Games with €1.2 Mil in First Round of 2026

Film- und Medienstiftung NRW has revealed the funding results of the first round in 2026. About EUR 1.2 million will go out to 16 projects. The biggest chunk goes to the only Production funding of the round: For Rootbound of Press Start stipendiate Brainlag Games, former game workers at now defunct Gothic and Elex maker Piranha Bytes.

Two vertical slices are also funded: Night Runner by 314 Arts with EUR 105,000 and the VR app Invisible Spaces by Fantastic Foe.

Among the early-stage funding recipients, there are some familiar faces: VoodooDuck, who just recently published the excellent cosy game Collector’s Cove, receive EUR 44,000 for their new project Gladiators. Ahoiii Entertainment are also among the recipients, as are Slow Bros. and Studio Inkyfox.

Digital Games Production Funding

Rootbound (PC) approx. EUR 300,000, Applicant: Brainlag Games GmbH, Essen

Digital Games Vertical Slice Funding

Night Runner (PC) approx. EUR 105,000; Applicant: 314 Arts OHG, Reken

Invisible Spaces (VR) approx. EUR 80,000; Applicant: Fantastic Foe UG, Bergisch Gladbach

Digital Games Early-Stage Funding

Schalotte – An Onion for All Occasions approx. EUR 50,000; Applicant: Ahoiii Entertainment UG, Cologne
Deviloop (working title) approx. EUR 50,000; Applicant: Daring Deevs, Cologne
The End of Our World (working title) approx. EUR 50,000; Applicant: Slow Bros. GmbH, Cologne
Gladiators approx. EUR 44,000;Applicant: VoodooDuck GmbH, Duisburg
OrbiRex approx. EUR 40,000; Applicant: Atris Film eGbR, Neuss
De:xtraction approx. EUR 33,000; Applicant: Fishtank Games, Essen
Scramble Quest approx. EUR 30,000; Applicant: Joana Costa Cunha e Almeida, Pulheim
Dicefall approx. 28,000 EUR; Applicant: Fabian Witeczek DropC Gamestudio, Mönchengladbach
Blacktide approx. 25,000 EUR; Applicant: DoubleBee GmbH, Essen
Smoky Sails approx. 20,000 EUR; Applicant: Studio Inkyfox UG, Werther (Westf.)
The Catsorcist approx. EUR 7,000; Applicant: Abbey of Theleme, Nettetal

Serious Games and XR Vertical Slice Funding