Gamecity Hamburg Funds 6 Digital Game Prototypes in Its 20th Anniversary Year

Key insights

6 takeaways

01
Gamecity Hamburg awarded 410,000 euros in prototype funding to six digital game projects in 2023.
02
Since 2020, the Prototype Funding program has supported 27 projects with a total investment of 1,536,000 euros.
03
The 2023 funding recipients include Amberdive Interactive (€80,000), Tiny Roar (€80,000), Curvature Games (€80,000), DrownTown (€70,000), Godcomplex Games (€70,000), and Beardshaker Games (€30,000).
04
Three of the six funded companies are graduates of the Gamecity Hamburg Games Lift Incubator, which provides 15,000 euros and mentorship to five teams annually.
05
The next application phase for the Prototype Funding program is scheduled to open in the spring of 2024.
06
Applications for the 2023 Games Lift Incubator program remain open until June 20, 2023.

Summary

Gamecity Hamburg, a public funding institution celebrating its 20th anniversary, has awarded 410,000 euros to six digital game prototypes as part of its 2023 funding cycle. This initiative aims to bolster the local games industry by supporting both startups and established studios in developing projects with high market potential. The selection process, which reviewed 24 applications, reflects the ongoing professionalization of the Hamburg games sector, as three of the six recipients are graduates of the organization’s own Games Lift Incubator program.

The funded projects demonstrate a diverse range of genres and mechanics, including co-op shooters, point-and-click adventures, mixed-reality experiences, and puzzle-based titles. Individual grants for these projects range from 30,000 to 80,000 euros. This latest round brings the total impact of the Prototype Funding program since its inception in 2020 to 1,536,000 euros distributed across 27 distinct game prototypes.

The program is managed by an awarding committee composed of industry experts from various sectors of the German games market. By providing non-repayable grants, the initiative seeks to strengthen Hamburg’s position as a leading hub for game development. Beyond direct financial support, the organization continues to offer professional development through its incubator, which provides coaching, mentoring, and workshop programs to further nurture local talent and project viability. The next application phase for prototype funding is scheduled to commence in the spring of 2024.