Hamburg-based independent studio Rockfish Games has received an €8 million grant from the German government to develop a new game in the Everspace franchise. This is the largest sum ever awarded by the Federal Games Funding Programme.
The Hamburg-based independent studio Rockfish Games has been awarded an €8 million grant by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) to develop the next instalment in its Everspace franchise. This is the largest grant yet awarded to a German video game developer from this fund, and it will be paid out over five years. This will enable the creation of multiple new roles at the studio. The highest previous funding sums went to Ubisoft Mainz for Anno 117: Rax Romana (€5.7 million), Deck13 Interactive for "Foxtrott" (€5 million), and King Art GmbH for "Tischplatte Ultimate Edition" (€3.9 million).
"We are beyond pleased to receive this grant from the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space. Over the last decade, Rockfish Games has been among the country's top video game studios, showing Germany can deliver award-winning titles through teamwork, strong technical knowledge, and innovative design," said Rockfish Games CEO and Co-Founder Michael Schade. "Ongoing investment in the video game industry shows Germany is aiming to take its place as one of the top countries for video game development. By supporting this creative industry, Germany not only demonstrates its technical and artistic strength, but also promotes growth in programming, design, visual effects, music, art, storytelling, and many other disciplines that contribute to game creation. As around 85% of our revenue comes from outside Germany and, as a fully independent self-publishing studio, all Rockfish Games profits are taxed here, this funding is also a strong deal for German taxpayers."
Everspace 2: Wrath of the Ancients and Everspace 2: Titans received partial funding from the Federal Games Funding Programme (€521,005 for prototype development in 2025). Wrath of the Ancients expanded the game to include four new star systems, a new player ship and a post-game story. This project involved more than 25 developers, artists, and programmers in Germany.
"Everspace has grown into a franchise that means a great deal to our team and the global community of space game fans, so it is exciting to confirm that our next project will once again take players into this universe," Schade continued. "Thanks to this substantial federal grant, we can significantly expand the scope of our ambitions for the next Everspace title, invest in entirely new gameplay experiences that we have already proven in our prototype, and grow our team to deliver the best possible space action experience for our fans."
Everspace 2: Wrath of the Ancients © Rockfish Games
The Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) provides grant funding of up to 50% for the production of video games and the development of prototypes. Depending on the size and evaluation of the project, funding typically starts at €300,000 and is provided as a non-refundable grant covering up to 50% of a project’s eligible costs, with a cap of up to €8 million per project for companies that have a registered office, permanent establishment or branch office in Germany. The overall annual budget of the programme has recently increased to over €120 million, further strengthening Germany's role as a video game development hub.
Michael Schade emphasises once again how important financial backing is for the survival of a studio in Germany, due to the high location costs and the problems the global industry is already facing. "Despite record profits globally, the video game industry faced significant challenges in recent years, with many studio closures around the world, including in Germany. For independent developers like Rockfish Games, this support is a crucial foundation for growth, competitiveness with lower-cost regions, and long term stability. Independence has allowed us to retain creative control and to pivot quickly based on team and player feedback, which has been central to developing the Everspace franchise. With the backing of this new grant, we can keep focusing on what we do best: making great games for dedicated niche audiences."
