The Prototype Funding program aims to enable Hamburg-based devs, studios, and start-ups to develop convincing prototypes of digital games for the competitive international games market. Because of the high quality of the projects submitted to the funding call, the awarding committee decided to use the full available Prototype Funding budget for 2022 in this funding round. The application phase for the next round of Prototype Funding will start in the spring of 2023. 

Six projects from different entrants managed to convince the awarding committee made up of games industry experts from Hamburg of the high potential of their games to be developed. We congratulate Tiny Roar, Super Crowd Entertainment, Bestjack Entertainment, Pseudoscience Interactive, Symmetry Break Studio, and Denise Koch!

The funded projects 2022: 

• Hexagone by Tiny Roar - €80,000
• Super Party Verse by Super Crowd Entertainment - €80,000
• Dein Skat by Bestjack Entertainment - €70,000
• Alchymia by Pseudoscience Interactive - €70,000
• Prospector by Symmetry Break Studio - €70,000
• Monstersongs VR by Denise Koch - €28,000

In total, 18 solo devs, teams, and companies from Hamburg applied for the Prototype Funding between March 4 and April 11 this year. The broad diversity and high quality of the applications illustrate the positive development of Hamburg's games industry and that the promotion of young talent provided in Hamburg yields great effects. Dennis Schoubye, Head of Gamecity Hamburg explains this further: "We see a positive dynamic in the quality of the applications for the Prototype Funding. We also see positive effects from other support programs like our Games Lift Incubator and our new event format 'Pitch Level Up'. Three of the funded projects are from teams and developers who have previously completed our Games Lift Incubator. In addition, there is a good mix among the funding recipients of projects from start-ups and game studios that are already firmly anchored in Hamburg".

Since the launch of the Prototype Funding program in its current form in 2020, Gamecity Hamburg has so far supported the development of 22 prototypes with a grand total of 1,240,000 euros.

More funding opportunities this year:

Apart from the Prototype Funding program, we also support developers, teams, founders, and start-ups from Hamburg with our own incubator program Games Lift. Annually, five teams are supported with 15,000 euros in funding, a tailored workshop and mentoring program with international games industry experts, places in a co-working space as well as 12 months follow-up support by coaches and specialized games PR agency.

You can apply for this year's Games Lift Incubator until June 14! 

Learn more about Games Lift and how to apply here.