Creative BC Video Games Business Development Program 2026/27
Creative BC and the Canada Media Fund offer non repayable grants up to $200,000 to established B.C. video game studios. Apply by September 28, 2026.
The Creative BC Video Games Business Development Program is a partnership between Creative BC and the Canada Media Fund. It gives non repayable funding to help B.C. video game companies grow. The maximum request is $200,000 per application, and the total envelope is $1,000,000.
Applicants must be for profit companies with their head office in British Columbia. They must be Canadian owned and controlled, and most voting shares must be held by B.C. residents. Their main business must be making video games for PC, mobile, consoles, VR or other game platforms.
The program is for mid level and experienced studios. They need two previous owned commercial titles and $500,000 average annual business expenditures. New startups can also apply if an owner held a leadership role at such a company. Recipients from the 2024 and 2025 rounds cannot apply this year.
Funding covers a business development plan over 12 months. Eligible costs include marketing, user acquisition, staff, technology, playtesting and work to open foreign markets. At least 75% of costs must be spent in British Columbia.
The application portal opened on August 21, 2026. Applications are due on September 28, 2026 at 4:00 PM Pacific time. Each company can send one application with a business plan of up to four pages, a slate of projects, a team list and a budget.
An external advisory panel reviews applications. It looks at the company track record and vision, the clarity of the funding request and its impact on the B.C. games sector, and the financial health of the company. Evaluation takes at least nine weeks.