Highlights
- Supercell has opened applications for equity-free grants of $20K to $200K for eligible game studios across Africa.
- Funding is set to begin in December 2026 after the review process ends.
- The inaugural program will select three to five African studios while allowing recipients to retain full ownership of their IP.
Supercell has opened applications for its first Developer Grants Program. The initiative offers equity-free grants ranging from $20K USD to $200K for legally registered game development studios across Africa. Applications opened on July 6 and will close on Aug 9, 2026.
Reviews will take place between August and October. Successful applicants will be notified in October, and funding is scheduled to begin in December 2026.
The Brawl Stars developer explained that the program is designed to help studios reach their next stage of growth while strengthening Africa's games ecosystem. Supercell added that it believes "some of the most exciting creative energy and distinctive cultural narratives today are emerging from Africa." The company also hopes to support sustainable studios and build long-term relationships with developers across the continent.
Supercell Seeks Exceptional African Studios for Inaugural Grants
The program is open to legally registered game development studios based in Africa. Their primary operations and most of their workforce must also be located on the continent. Supercell is accepting applications across all genres, platforms, and business models, including premium, free-to-play, and hybrid games.
The grants are meant for studios, not individual (indie) projects.
Solo developers, hobby projects, and unregistered teams are not eligible. Applications will be assessed in five areas: creative vision, team, community engagement, ecosystem impact, and funding plan. Supercell expects to select around three to five studios for the first cohort.
Applicants are encouraged to prepare a pitch deck, links to previous games, a gameplay trailer or video, and a funding plan. A playable build is optional.
The grants are non-dilutive, meaning Supercell will not take equity or ownership of the studio or its intellectual property (IP). Funding can be used for salaries, art, engineering, quality assurance (QA), software, live operations, marketing, and other development costs.
The program expands Supercell's long-term investment efforts. The company previously invested in Redemption Games and Shipyard Games before acquiring Metacore earlier in 2026. Unlike those investments, the new grants provide financial support without taking an ownership stake.
