Young game studios face significant challenges, especially in times of instability and economic crises. Not only in Germany but worldwide, as the gaming industry is weathering tough conditions.  

While that’s true, the Games Lift Incubator has always seen ups and downs in the games industry since its launch in the pandemic year of 2020. Every team eventually graduates from the incubator, but they stay in our network. Finding the answer to a hairy question often comes down to having the right contacts in your address books. Gamecity Hamburg has been cultivating a network that can help for over twenty years, so it’s no surprise that our alumni excel at seizing opportunities.  

19 successful followup funding applications  

Many sources of funding are available for young teams in the federal republic of Germany, but the landscape can be confusing and funding opportunities are highly competitive. This is where the program’s extensive pitch training pays off: A significant majority of our alumni have successfully applied for different kinds funding. Many have received Gamecity’s Prototype Funding following the Incubator program. But we’re thrilled to also have several scholarship recipients at Press Start– Julia Reberg, who participated with “Alchymia” in the inaugural year, is one of them, along with Team Godcomplex (“Stack’em’up”) and three teams from this year’s Games Lift Incubator. Additional funding has been provided by nordmedia and the Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg.  

In the VR community, a place in the Meta Horizon store is particularly sought after. Ole Jürgensen has secured one with his action figure arcade battler “Crumbling.”   

Games Lift’s workshop program helps teams to develop games with a clear plan and a target in sight. “Crumbling” is also an example of a finished game, available now. Impawsible Games also recently launched “Ninja Brigade feat. Jonah Weingarten” on Steam. And “Leif’s Adventure” by Roman Fuhrer is out now, too. Roman shares his insights as a founder and developer within our network. Gamecity Hamburg keeps track of all former teams. Every live Steam page and every trade fair appearance is a cause for celebration.  

Two Deutscher Computerspielpreis-Awards  

A deeper look from an expert can make a game better. Thanks to good feedback and clear advice, several projects have already won awards. All were rooting for the always-busy Pipapo Games from our 2023 cohort. With “Map Map – A Game About Maps”, they have a cleverly silly title and an impressive game to go with it. After winning the Ubisoft Newcomer Award at the Deutscher Entwicklerpreis, they’ve been nominated as Best Prototype at the Deutscher Computerspielpreis-Awards!  

The well-earned winner this year was Blob the Klex, a very cute cat platformer out of Darmstadt. But despite its origins in Berlin and Munich, the trophy has been here often. In the prototype category, Misgiven won in 2024, with REPLICORE securing a nomination. The 2023 winner, Light of Atlantis is also from here.  

So, is the Games Lift Incubator worth it? If you take a closer look at our Alumni’s successes from funding to awards, you just might find an answer.