Games Lift 2025: Hamburg Incubator Supports Five New Developer Teams

The Games Lift Incubator, an initiative managed by Gamecity Hamburg on behalf of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, has selected five developer teams for its 2025 cohort. Now in its sixth year, the program aims to provide professional, tailored support to help emerging studios successfully release their debut titles. The selected projects include a diverse range of genres, specifically The Wrong Horse, Encaged and Ungraded, Fading Skies, Phasmopass, and Project: Slimepot.

The incubator provides each team with 15,000 euros in financial support and access to a comprehensive one-year development program. This includes workshops, individual mentoring from industry experts, and a collective trip to an international industry event. The program is structured in two phases: an initial three-month workshop period culminating in a public pitch in December 2025, followed by a second phase of intensive mentoring that runs through August 2026.

Interest in the incubator has grown significantly, with 43 teams and solo developers applying for the 2025 cycle—more than double the volume of previous years. Applicants represented seven countries across three continents, highlighting the program's increasing international reach. An awarding committee of industry professionals selected the final participants based on the market potential of their projects. Beyond the incubator, Gamecity Hamburg continues to support the local ecosystem through its Prototype Funding program, which offers up to 80,000 euros per project to Hamburg-based developers, with the next application window scheduled for spring 2026.