$960,000 boost for game developers in CODE’s third national funding round

13 studios from across Aotearoa received prototype and production funding in the third NZ CODE national funding round.

A total of $359,816.60 was awarded to nine studios within the KickStart grant funding category for the creation of innovative, commercially viable game prototypes.

A further $599,975.68 was allocated to four studios in the StartUp funding category to support production work for titles already in development. These include Mischief Makers Studio (Auckland), Dead Teapot (Wellington) and Eat Pant Games (Wellington), all of which received earlier CODE funding, and Plectrum Software (Auckland).

"Once again the New Zealand Centre Of Digital Excellence is elevating and investing in the best and brightest of new Kiwi teams. Since 2020, we have watched teams grow, succeed and ultimately launch through the Dunedin programme, and now we are watching that maturity in the national equivalent" says NZ CODE Chair, Murray Strong.

"We also acknowledge Minister Rēti’s announcement and look forward to further growing NZ CODE’s national programme.”

CODE Funding aims to support the Aotearoa - New Zealand game development ecosystem by assisting diverse creators and studios to develop digital game prototypes, found new studios or expand existing companies’ ambitions.

KickStart recipients - game art L-R: Bashful Adoration (Kitty Wampus); Cold Salvage (Bunguin Games); Pipwip (Cookiecrayon Ltd)

In Round 11, CODE received 126 expressions of interest, the highest EOI for funding received since the national programme began, resulting in 65 full applications submitted.

Applications were assessed by an external, independent assessment panel drawn from global industry experts and 13 were recommended for funding.

Details on KickStart category recipients and game projects:

Studio: Bunguin Games (New Plymouth)

Project: Cold Salvage

Grant: $40,000

Cold Salvage is a co-op survival horror game set in dangerous abandoned wrecks. Load up on gear and enter unstable environments, avoiding hazards and creatures as you work to claim your salvage.

Studio: Cookiecrayon Ltd (Napier)

Project: Pikwip

Grant: $40,000

Two tethered buddies stumble their way up a mountain in a co-op tug-of-war adventure. Fumble through awkward obstacles and jump into optional mini games as you coordinate your moves, powers, and evergrowing collection of outfits.

Studio: Cosmic Soup Games (Christchurch)

Project: GO PHISH

Grant: $39,900.60

GO PHISH is a puzzle card game about hacking and social engineering. As a young Comp.Sci graduate with big debts and a looming rent payment, you must phish innocent victims out of their savings in order to survive.

Studio: Dolphin Ridge Games (Wellington)

Project: Shardquest (working title)

Grant: $40,000

Shardquest is a free-to-play mobile game that fuses turn-based tower defence with roguelike deckbuilding. Build your deck, shape the battlefield, and defend magical crystals in endlessly replayable runs packed with strategy, synergies, and tactical depth.

Studio: White Balance Pictures (Wellington)

Project: Mind the Animals

Grant: $40,000

Mind the Animals is a cozy sim dramedy about 27-year-old Dawn, running a seaside bakery in New Zealand. With six months to find her path, she’s guided by sentient, telepathic animals whose advice can shape the direction of her life in unexpected ways.

Studio: Hugenormous Games (Auckland)

Project: Into the Rootforge

Grant: $40,000

Into the Rootforge is a fusion of runner, roguelike and card-based action combat. Master customisable attacks to delve further with each attempt. Uncover the secrets of the Rootforge and grow your true power through the skill trees of The Garden.

Studio: Kitty Wampus (Auckland)

Project: Bashful Adoration

Grant: $39,916

Bashful Adoration is a kinetic 3D platformer starring a cast of four competitive witches who are all in love with the same crush! Features bombastic combat, expressive movement and a light-hearted narrative ripe with themes of love, rivalry and friendship.

Studio: Trinsic Labs (Wellington)

Project: Tiny Haunted Bookshop

Grant: $40,000

Tiny Haunted Bookshop is a cozy mystery horror game that blends collectible play and light management. Players run a tiny second-hand bookshop in a strange small town, focusing on collecting sets of beloved books to unlock their powers and uncover the town’s eerie secrets.

Studio: Tuatara Tea Party (Wellington)

Project: MA

Grant: $40,000

MA is a top-down cooking RPG with a flavorful twist. Go on an adventure through the spirit world to save your grandma from an evil sea serpent using the power of cooking. Cook various dishes for different mythological characters, exploring Korean cuisine in this story about identity and family.

StartUp recipients - game art L-R: Teeto! (Eat Pant Games); Project Mix (Plectrum Software); Shape Sender Deluxe (Dead Teapot Ltd)

Details on StartUp category recipients and game projects:

Studio: Plectrum Software (Auckland)

Project: Project Mix

Grant: $149,975.68

PROJECT MIX is a VR anime narrative adventure, inspired by 90's anime and Hong Kong cinema.

Studio: Dead Teapot Ltd (Wellington)

Project: Shape Sender Deluxe

Grant: $150,000

Solve physics puzzles using a range of unconventional tools and get shapes from A to B, while your new best friend Sendy teaches you how to play, exchanges bants, and challenges you - before betraying you and forcing you to become the level designer!

Studio: Eat Pant Games (Wellington)

Project: Teeto

Grant: $150,000

Teeto is a 3D adventure platformer where you play as a tiny blob and bunny duo on an extraordinary journey. Absorb objects from the world, harnessing their powers to fight the shadow corruption and help out a cast of crazy characters in an action packed adventure!

Studio: Mischief Makers Studio (Auckland)

Project: Burger Bois

Grant: $150,000

A whimsical food truck simulation game about flavour, not labour. As chief burger creative, design perfect sandwiches and craft your customers' most vague requests into culinary masterpieces - or disasterpieces! No recipe, no 'one-right-answer': just let your tastebuds take you to the top.

For access to any of the teams, please contact us at info@nz-code.nz for initial contacts and introductions.

About CODE

CODE is the New Zealand Centre of Digital Excellence – a Dunedin-based hub designed to progress the sustainable growth of New Zealand’s video game development industry. CODE’s regional programme in Dunedin is funded by Kānoa – Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit – and its national expansion by Hīkina Whakatutuki, Ministry of Innovation, Business and Employment (MBIE).

Further details about CODE funding can be found here.