PlayStation Architect Mark Cerny Announces Retirement Plans and New Fellowship with Geoff Keighley

Mark Cerny, the visionary behind PlayStation's hardware, has revealed that he is approaching the end of his career. To give back before he steps away, he has teamed up with Geoff Keighley, creator of The Game Awards, to launch a new fellowship program for game design graduates. The initiative, named the Nova Games Foundation, aims to provide 20 graduates each year with a six-figure grant.

In an interview with Game File, Cerny and Keighley shared details about the nonprofit program, which is designed to last for decades. Recipients will receive mentorship along with a $100,000 grant with no strings attached. Additionally, projects that show exceptional promise could earn up to an extra $500,000, based on meeting development milestones.

"I'm nearing the end of my career," Cerny told Game File's Stephen Totilo. "I'm not done yet, but paying it forward—in the best way possible—is very much on my mind these days." Keighley added, "I've always wanted to give back, but given my role in the industry, I've never felt it appropriate to commercially invest in games. I've never owned stock in a game company or taken a financial stake in a game. Nova is philanthropy: we aren't taking equity or looking to recoup the grants. The return we're hoping for is creative—helping new voices make games and find their footing."

Josef Fares, the founder of Hazelight and director of acclaimed co-op games like A Way Out, It Takes Two, and Split Fiction, has already pledged his support through donations and mentorship. Meanwhile, NYU and USC are among the 13 universities from around the world participating in the program. The first recipients will be from the classes of 2026 and 2027, with applications opening in December of this year.