Creative BC Video Games Early Stage Growth 2026/27

Creative BC Video Games Early Stage Growth is a pilot grant for new video game companies in British Columbia. The 2026/27 guidelines, published on 28 August 2026, set the maximum request at $50,000. The program budget is $300,000. The support does not have to be repaid. The program page lists the round as open.

The company must be for profit and incorporated in British Columbia or Canada, with its head office in British Columbia. A company that is only registered in British Columbia from another province is not eligible. It must be Canadian owned and Canadian controlled under the Investment Canada Act. Most of the common voting shares must be held by British Columbia residents. A resident here is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who lived in British Columbia for at least 200 of the 365 days before the application and filed British Columbia income tax for the year before. The company, and related parties, must be in good standing with Creative BC. Eligible companies have titles in development and no more than one released commercial title.

You apply with an online form. It asks for a business development plan of at most four pages, company and shareholder details, a presentation deck of at most 10 pages, links to a trailer or demo video, key team information, and a budget. Do not send installation files or executable builds. At least 75 percent of costs must be spent on goods and services from British Columbia. Travel is capped at 10 percent of the allocation. Costs already paid by another Creative BC program, capital projects, and debt repayment are not eligible.

The application portal opened on 18 September 2026. Applications are due by 2 November 2026 at 4:00pm Pacific Time. Creative BC expects evaluation to take at least nine weeks after the close. An external advisory panel decides. A company may submit once. Recipients of the 2025 round cannot apply this year. The panel looks at the company profile, how clear the funding request is, creative quality, and market potential.

Quick answers

Can a studio with two shipped games apply?

No. This program is for companies with no more than one shipped game. Companies with two or more titles are directed to the Video Games Business Development program.

Where must the money be spent?

At least 75 percent of total costs must be spent on goods and services sourced in British Columbia.

Can a company that won last year apply again?

No. Successful recipients of the 2025 round are not eligible for this intake. Each company may send one submission.