Creative Europe MEDIA 2027: new funding for video games and immersive content

The European Creative Europe programme, through its MEDIA sub-programme, is renewing its support for the European audiovisual and video game industries with the new CREA-MEDIA-2027-DEVVGIM call, dedicated to the development of narrative video games and interactive immersive experiences.

The initiative aims to support European companies in creating original projects capable of standing out in international markets and reaching an increasingly broad audience. Particular attention is given to creativity, content quality, and developers' ability to retain control over the intellectual property of their works.

From Concept to First Playable Prototype

The call focuses on the pre-production phase, supporting projects from the initial concept through to the development of a first playable version.

Eligible development milestones include a first playable prototype, a vertical slice, an Alpha version, or a demo. However, subsequent production activities are not eligible for funding. These include testing, debugging, and completing the product up to the Gold Master version.

Submitted projects must feature a strong narrative component: the story must be an integral part of the gaming experience and cannot be limited to a simple introduction or conclusion.

A wide range of platforms is eligible, including PC, consoles, mobile devices, tablets and smartphones, as well as other technologies designed for interactive and immersive experiences.

However, not all types of video games are eligible. The call prioritises experiences with a significant narrative component and excludes, among others, purely sports-based games, racing games, puzzles, quizzes, party games, and titles based exclusively on rhythm, combat, words, or numbers. Projects primarily intended for professional education or therapy, promotional and advertising content, and social platforms without a genuine storytelling component are also excluded.

How Much Funding Is Available?

The total budget allocated to the call is €13.5 million, subject to the final adoption of the European Union's 2027 budget.

Each project may receive a maximum grant of €200,000, with a funding rate of 60% of eligible costs.

This represents a particularly interesting opportunity for independent studios and European production companies looking to develop new intellectual properties, validate their ideas through prototypes, and create the conditions needed to attract further investment.

Who Can Apply?

The call is open to European video game production companies, studios specialising in XR (Extended Reality), and audiovisual production companies.

Applicants must be established in a country fully participating in the MEDIA strand and be directly or indirectly majority-owned by nationals of one of these countries.

Applications may be submitted individually or through a consortium comprising at least two partners. Publishing companies are not eligible to apply.

An important requirement concerns the experience of the coordinating applicant: it must have previously developed or produced at least one video game or immersive experience that was commercially distributed between 1 January 2024 and the call deadline. This activity must be supported by sales reports. Projects developed exclusively on a work-for-hire basis or titles still in Early Access are not considered eligible for this requirement.

In addition, the coordinator or one of the eligible partners must hold the majority of the rights to the submitted project.

Sustainability, Inclusion and Diversity

Alongside creative and commercial aspects, Creative Europe MEDIA 2027 places particular emphasis on the social and environmental responsibility of the cultural industries.

Proposals must therefore incorporate strategies addressing environmental sustainability, gender balance, inclusion and diversity, promoting greater representation both in content and throughout production processes.

This approach reflects the European Union's commitment to fostering a video game industry that is more sustainable, accessible, and representative of contemporary society.

Key Dates to Remember

The call schedule provides for applications to open on 30 September 2026, with a deadline of 2 February 2027 at 17:00 CET.

Proposals will be evaluated between February and June 2027, with results expected to be announced in July. Grant agreements are scheduled to be signed in October 2027.

Projects should normally have a maximum duration of 36 months, although extensions may be granted with appropriate justification.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted exclusively online through the Funding & Tenders Portal, the European Commission's official platform for EU funding opportunities.

To apply, organisations must be registered in the Participant Register and prepare the required documentation, including the project description, budget, creative dossier, and documentation relating to intellectual property ownership and corporate eligibility requirements.

Full details on eligibility conditions, evaluation criteria, and required documentation are available in the official Call Document.