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Video Games Business Development Program

Supports B.C. game studio growth

Offered by
Canada Media Fund (CMF)
Official source: cmf-fmc.ca

Source change captured

Funding available
$ 200,000
Deadline
Unspecified
Location
British Columbia, Canada
Who can apply
For-profit companies incorporated in British Columbia or Canada with a head office in British Columbia
See full eligibility

Overview

The Video Games Business Development Program supports B.C.-based video game companies through Creative BC and the Canada Media Fund. It focuses on business-focused plans for ongoing content production, capacity building, creative IP development, and growth beyond project-by-project funding.

At a glance

Funding available

Maximum funding
$200,000
Financing goals
  • Develop strategic partnerships
  • Attract or retain talent
  • Increase production or service capacity
  • Strengthen organizational capacity
  • Access new markets
  • Start a business
  • Reach a new target audience
  • Launch or market a product/service
  • Ensure financial sustainability

Eligible candidates

Location
  • British Columbia
Eligible Industries
All industries
Annual revenue
$ 500,000 minimum revenue
Organisation size
All organization sizes
Audience
  • Startups
Legal structures
For-profit business

Receipt of requests is now closed

Get notified about updates to this grant.

Availability timeline

2026
Periods: 3

Latest changes

Application link removed; program marked closed

The Video Games Business Development page now shows the program as closed and no longer lists the application form link.

See more

The Video Games Business Development page now labels the program as closed, and the application form link has been removed. The guidelines and resource documents remain listed, including the application checklist, FAQ, templates, and budget file. The change itself is the loss of the live application endpoint and the closed status label.

Official source: cmf-fmc.ca
October 10, 2026

Eligibility

Who is eligible?

  • For-profit companies incorporated in British Columbia or Canada with a head office in British Columbia
  • Mid-level and experienced video game companies
  • New company startups with one or more owners who previously held ownership positions at mid-level or experienced video game companies

Who is not eligible

  • Companies extra-provincially registered in B.C.
  • Companies whose primary business has been other forms of interactive or digital media such as websites, mobile applications, interactive/immersive projects, and software applications that are not readily and easily identifiable as games
  • Successful recipients of the previous 2024 and 2025 rounds

Eligible expenses

  • Promotion and marketing; user acquisition strategies
  • Labour and personnel; technology, content and design; technical and administrative expenses
  • Expenses required to put content online or to create applications, including copyright clearance, documentation, design and development
  • Travel costs, including accommodation, airfare, and per diem, to a maximum of 10% of the total allocation
  • Legal, accounting, or other consulting fees; activities to open foreign markets; playtesting for QA and usability

Ineligible Costs and Activities

  • Any expenses, activity or phase of work that are already directly supported by another CMF or Creative BC program
  • Capital projects such as the purchase, renovation or improvement of land and buildings
  • Working capital replenishment, repayment of loans or debt, operating deficits, capital losses and capital buybacks
  • Any expenses related to the production of content that is not 100% owned and controlled/optioned by the applicant for a minimum of 12 months
  • Any expenses related to the production of content identified as ineligible in section 3.2.2.2 of the CMF Interactive Digital Media Content Programs Core Guidelines

Eligible geographic areas

  • British Columbia

Activities funded

  • Business-focused plans for ongoing content production and capacity building
  • Developing their own creative IP
  • Growth beyond project-by-project funding

How to apply

  • Complete an online application
  • You will be redirected to an external page to complete your application

Documents Needed

  • Business Development Plan
  • Company information, including shareholders’ and directors’ previous game titles
  • List of previous work meeting eligibility requirements
  • Basic information on current projects in the company slate
  • Key team member information and proposed budget

Selection criteria

  • Company track record and overall strategic vision
  • Clarity of Funding Request details, including objectives, needs, and expected outcomes, and potential for positive impact on the video game sector in B.C.
  • Stability and financial health of the company

Processing and Agreement

  • An initial review for eligibility and missing documentation will be conducted by Creative BC staff
  • If documentation is missing, applicants will be informed and given a short period, maximum five days, to submit outstanding materials
  • Incomplete or ineligible applications will be withdrawn with notification
  • The competitive review will involve Creative BC and CMF staff as well as an advisory panel comprised of external industry professionals
  • All decisions will be confirmed via email, and when an application is unsuccessful, a brief explanation can be provided upon request

Additional information

  • Successful recipients are required to publicly acknowledge the financial support of Creative BC and the CMF wherever other financiers are acknowledged.
  • Projects are also encouraged to acknowledge support on social media where possible.
  • Creative BC and the CMF do not offer any form of appeal process for this program.

Contacts

nklassen@creativebc.com

Official sources

Video Games Business Development Program

Program guide

Guidelines 2026/27
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Frequently Asked Questions about the Video Games Business Development Program Program

What is the Video Games Business Development Program?

The Video Games Business Development Program supports B.C.-based video game companies through Creative BC and the Canada Media Fund. It focuses on business-focused plans for ongoing content production, capacity building, creative IP development, and growth beyond project-by-project funding.

How much funding can be received?

Video Games Business Development Program Funds up to $200,000 of admissible expenses.

Who is eligible for the Video Games Business Development Program program?

To be eligible for the Video Games Business Development Program program, you must: For-profit company incorporated in British Columbia or Canada with its head office in British Columbia Canadian-owned and Canadian-controlled Primary business is the creation of video games for digital game platforms

What expenses are eligible under Video Games Business Development Program?

Promotion and marketing; user acquisition strategies Labour and personnel; technology, content and design; technical and administrative expenses Expenses required to put content online or to create applications, including copyright clearance, documentation, design and development Travel costs, including accommodation, airfare, and per diem, to a maximum of 10% of the total allocation Legal, accounting, or other consulting fees; activities to open foreign markets; playtesting for QA and usability

Who can I contact for more information about the Video Games Business Development Program?

You can contact Canada Media Fund (CMF) by email at nklassen@creativebc.com.

Where is the Video Games Business Development Program available?

The Video Games Business Development Program program is available the province of British Columbia.

Is the Video Games Business Development Program a grant, loan, or tax credit?

Video Games Business Development Program is a Grant and Funding