It is this time of the year again! We are launching the next round of Prototype Funding, opening applications from February 23 to March 30. A total of 400,000 euros is available to support the development of digital games in Hamburg. Teams and developers can apply for up to 80,000 euros per project, covering up to 80 percent of project costs. The funding is non‑repayable.

Who Can Apply

The program is open to founders, start-ups, and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) based in Hamburg, or those who plan to relocate to the city, or open a branch here. A consultation with Gamecity Hamburg is required at least two weeks before the application deadline to ensure that the developers are well-prepared.

All details, templates, and FAQs are available at: https://gamecity-hamburg.de/funding/apply-now/

The funding decisions for 2026 will be made by an Awarding Committee. This year’s committee includes Indie Arena Booth Director Valentina Birke, Daedalic Entertainment COO Jonas Hüsges, Goodgame Studios VP Publishing & Development Services Nina Müller, ROCKFISH Games CEO and Co-Founder Michael Schade, and Karsten Schwaiger, Head of the Media and Digital Economy Department at the Hamburg Ministry of Culture and Media. Dennis Schoubye, Head of Gamecity Hamburg, is also part of the committee.

The committee will review all submissions after the deadline on March 30 and meet on April 27. Pitches from selected applicants will follow on May 6 and the committee will decide on the award of funding then.

We are looking forward to receiving all your wonderful applications!