Development Fund - Guidance Notes for Applicants

About the Irish Games Fund

The Irish Games Fund supports the development of original games by Irish game studios and strengthens the long-term development of Ireland's games sector.

The Fund forms part of the Digital Games Portfolio, supported through public funding, and is intended to contribute both to the development of sustainable Irish games businesses and to Ireland's cultural and creative storytelling.

The Development Fund is specifically intended for established projects that have moved beyond concept validation and are progressing towards production and commercial release.

The Development Fund is expected to be highly competitive.

There is limited funding available and the programme currently intends to support four projects. Meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee funding.

Applicants should consider carefully whether their project is sufficiently developed and whether they can provide evidence of:

• a strong and distinctive project;

• meaningful development work completed to date;

• a viable production scope;

• the team's ability to deliver;

• a credible full-project budget and financing plan;

• an identified audience and market;

• a clear cultural and creative rationale;

• and a realistic route beyond this grant towards completion and release

Strong projects may remain unsuccessful because of the level of competition and the limited amount of funding available.

What is the Development Fund for?

The Development Fund supports studios with a validated game project and existing prototype/playable build to undertake a significant next phase of development.

Funding should enable the applicant to make a clearly identifiable advancement in the project rather than simply sustaining existing activity.

Depending on the project, this could include:

• developing or improving a playable build;

• gameplay or systems development;

• narrative development and implementation; 

• art and animation production;

• audio production;

• technical development;

• production and pipeline work;

• external specialist development support;

• testing and iteration;

• production planning and scoping;

• market and audience validation;

• development of publisher/investor-facing materials;

• or other directly attributable game-development activity.

The intended outputs of the programme include playable builds or demonstrations, alongside stronger production and commercial readiness.

Is this fund right for your project?

You should consider applying if:

Your project:

• is an original game/IP being developed by an eligible Irish company;

• has progressed beyond ideation or concept stage;

• can be demonstrated through a playable prototype, build or substantial equivalent evidence;

• has a defined creative vision, audience and scope;

• has a team capable of undertaking the proposed development;

• has an identifiable next stage of production which the grant can meaningfully support;

• has a realistic plan for financing or completing the project beyond this grant;

• and can begin the proposed work within the programme's delivery timeframe.

This fund is probably not appropriate if:

• you currently only have an idea, pitch document or initial concept;

• the core game design is still largely undefined;

• you need funding primarily to determine whether the concept works at all;

• you do not yet have meaningful evidence of development;

• you cannot demonstrate how the project could ultimately be financed and completed;

• the proposed project is substantially larger than your team's demonstrated capacity;

• or you would be unable to begin work within the required timeframe.

Cultural and creative focus

The Irish Games Fund is supported through Screen Ireland Digital Games Portfolio. Assessment will consider more than technical execution or commercial opportunity alone.

The Fund aims to support original creative work which contributes to Ireland's cultural and creative landscape and strengthens the visibility of games as a creative medium

This does not mean that a game must:

• be set in Ireland;

• use Irish mythology;

• be historical;

• or explicitly tell an "Irish story".

However, applicants should be able to articulate the project's creative and cultural value to Ireland’s Games sector.

Particular consideration may be given to games in which narrative, characters, world-building, themes, artistic expression or other authored creative elements form a meaningful part of the player experience.

What funding can support

Eligible costs should be reasonable and directly attributable to the funded development activity.

These may include:

Personnel

• salaries or wages for employees working directly on the project;

• project-specific staff costs;

• freelance and contractor costs;

• specialist development support.

Creative and technical production

• programming;

• game design;

• narrative design/writing;

• art;

• animation;

• audio;

• technical art;

• UI/UX;

• accessibility development;

• production support;

• QA or testing undertaken as part of development.

Project-specific external costs

• specialist software or licences required specifically for funded production;

• external research or testing;

• professional services directly required to undertake the funded work.

Costs that will not be supported

Funding should not normally be used for:

• costs incurred before the agreed project start date;

• expenditure unrelated to the submitted game;

• general company overheads that cannot reasonably be attributed to the project;

• debt repayment;

• retrospective reimbursement of previous development;

• dividends or profit distributions;

• speculative expenditure not supported by the proposed work plan;

• purchase of general-purpose equipment without clear project necessity;

• unrelated company formation or general business-development costs;

• entertainment or hospitality;

• costs already fully financed through another public funding source;

• or expenditure outside Ireland beyond the permitted threshold.

Irish expenditure requirement

Development Fund support is expected to be spent in Ireland. This reflects the purpose of the Fund in supporting Irish game development, employment and creative production.

Applicants should plan for all grant-funded expenditure to take place in Ireland. Where there is a clear and reasonable need to use a supplier, contractor or specialist based outside Ireland, this may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Any proposed expenditure outside Ireland must:

• be clearly identified in the application and budget;

• explain why the required expertise or service cannot reasonably be sourced in Ireland; and

• receive approval from IMIRT before the expenditure is incurred.

Exceptions should be limited and proportionate to the needs of the project.

Your budget must show the whole project

Do not submit a budget showing only what you would like the Irish Games Fund to pay for.

We need to understand the financial viability of the game as a whole.

Applicants should provide:

1. Total project cost - the realistic estimated cost of developing the game through to completion/release

2. Project expenditure to date - cash and significant founder/company investment already made

3. Development Fund request - the specific expenditure proposed for this grant.

4. Other confirmed finance - investment, publisher funding, grants, studio funds or other confirmed income

5. Other anticipated finance - finance being sought but not yet secured

6. Remaining funding gap - if applicable

7. Post-funding plan - how the company expects to finance the remainder of production and release

This allows assessors to determine whether the requested grant represents a viable intervention in a project with an understood scope

A €50,000 request against a credibly costed €180,000 project with existing investment and a believable strategy for financing the remainder, for example, tells the panel considerably more than a standalone €50,000 list of expenses

IMIRT will provide a budget template for the Full Application

Financial viability

Receiving Development Fund support does not mean applicants must already have the entire game financed.

It does mean that applicants need to demonstrate that they understand:

• approximately what the complete project will cost;

• what has already been invested;

• what this funding would achieve;

• what remains to be financed;

• where remaining finance is expected to come from;

• what happens if anticipated external finance is not secured;

• and how the company's proposed scope responds to those circumstances.

The panel is assessing financial and production judgement

Match funding and applicant investment

Applicants should clearly identify any financial or in-kind investment already made in the project and any investment proposed during the funded period.

This could include:

• company cash;

• founder investment;

• wages already financed by the company;

• unpaid development time;

• previous grant support;

• publisher advances;

• investment;

• or contracted revenue reinvested in the project.

This helps establish both the project's development history and the applicant's commitment to taking it forward.

Payment of the grant

Grants will be paid in two tranches, subject to the Funding Agreement and satisfactory delivery of the agreed project.

Tranche 1: 70% following execution of the Funding Agreement and completion of any required onboarding documentation.

Tranche 2: 30% following satisfactory completion of the agreed interim milestone and submission of the required progress and financial documentation.

Successful applicants will be required to retain appropriate financial records and evidence of expenditure.

Project readiness and timeframe

Funding activity should take place between November 2026 and August 2027

The Development Fund is therefore intended for teams that are ready to move into the proposed work immediately. The grant should accelerate an established development plan rather than create the conditions for a team to begin defining one.

Assessment process

Eligibility check → Application assessment → Interview

Applicants must first complete the Expression of Interest (EOI). Those who meet the Fund’s basic eligibility and project-readiness criteria will then receive the Full Application Form and Budget Template, helping ensure applicants do not spend unnecessary time preparing a full submission where the project is not eligible or suitable for the Fund. 

Eligibility 

The EOI will be reviewed against the Fund’s basic eligibility and project-readiness requirements. Applicants must:

• Be registered company in Ireland

• Operating for more than one year

• Be developing an original game/IP

• Hold the necessary rights to develop and commercially release the project

• Have progressed beyond concept or ideation stage

• Be able to demonstrate existing development work through a prototype, build, or equivalent material

• Have a clear next stage of development that the Fund would support

• Be ready to undertake the proposed work within the programme timeframe

• Be progressing the project towards commercial release.

The EOI is not competitively scored; it is used to determine whether a project is suitable to progress to the full application.

Application

Full Applications will be assessed by an independent panel of international games industry experts with relevant experience across development, production, publishing, investment and commercialisation. Applications will be reviewed against the published assessment criteria below, with panel members considering the strength of the project, the development plan, team capability, viability and future potential.  

Criterion

Creative and Cultural Quality

Development Plan and Use of Funding

Feasibility, Budget and Financial Viability

Team Capability and Production Readiness

Audience, Market and Future Potential

Total

1. Creative & Cultural Quality - 25%

Assessors will consider:

• clarity and strength of the creative vision;

• quality and distinctiveness of the existing project;

• strength of narrative, world, characters, themes, artistic direction or other authored creative qualities, as relevant;

• how meaningfully these elements contribute to the player experience;

• and the project's potential contribution to Ireland's cultural and creative output.

2. Development Plan & Use of Funding - 25%

Assessors will consider:

• what has already been developed;

• why this is the appropriate next stage;

• clarity of the proposed work;

• quality of milestones and deliverables;

• what the grant will materially unlock;

• and whether the work represents meaningful project advancement.

3. Feasibility, Budget & Financial Viability - 20%

Assessors will consider:

• whether scope, schedule and expenditure align;

• credibility of the full-project budget;

• understanding of total development costs;

• investment and finance to date;

• remaining financing requirements;

• contingencies and key assumptions;

• and whether there is a credible route to project completion.

4. Team Capability & Production Readiness - 15%

Assessors will consider:

• relevant experience and demonstrated capability;

• whether key roles are covered;

• availability during the funded period;

• project and production management;

• skill gaps and how these will be addressed;

• and the team's ability to begin promptly.

5. Audience, Market & Future Potential - 15%

Assessors will consider:

• clarity of target audience;

• appropriate comparable titles;

• evidence supporting market assumptions;

• project positioning;

• route to market;

• publishing/investment strategy where applicable;

• and potential to reach national or international audiences.

What makes a strong application?

A strong application will:

• show the game rather than relying entirely on written description;

• clearly explain what exists today;

• identify a specific, achievable next development stage;

• demonstrate that the requested investment is proportionate to that stage;

• provide a realistic whole-project budget;

• show that the applicant understands what it will take to complete the game;

• provide evidence for audience and market assumptions;

• demonstrate creative and cultural value;

• acknowledge genuine risks;

• and explain what happens after the Development Fund period ends.

A larger game or larger budget will not inherently score more highly.

The panel should have confidence that the applicant understands the project they are making and the business and production implications of making it.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

IMIRT is currently developing a policy on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the games sector. In the meantime, we want to better understand how AI is already being used in development. Applicants will not be penalised for having used AI, but we expect full transparency.

Applicants should:

• Declare any use of ML or generative AI within the project or application, including assistive uses such as drafting application/supporting documents, coding support, research, or workflow assistance.

• Clearly identify any generative AI-created assets currently used in the project, including art, writing, voice, music, or audio

• Identify whether generated material is temporary, developmental or intended for release 

• Explain how Development Fund support will be used to replace generative AI assets with work created by appropriately engaged creators

Due to unresolved copyright, intellectual property, ownership and commercialisation risks, the Development Fund will not support projects that intend to commercially release with art, audio, writing or other creative assets that have been substantially generated through ML or generative AI systems. 

Applicants will not be penalised simply for prior use of ML or generative AI, but this may reflect on their ability to ship a commercial game which is a key criterion for funding. IMIRT will consider these issues on a case-by-case basis.

Failure to disclose or accurately represent material use of ML or generative AI may result in the application being removed from consideration.

This guidance does not refer to established game-development techniques such as procedural generation, NPC behaviour, pathfinding or other traditional forms of game AI. 

IMIRT will continue to engage with the Irish games sector on this evolving and divisive issue through organised forums and consultation. Applicant transparency will help inform the development of a clear, practical and representative AI policy for the sector.