South Australia’s Digital Games Fund will offer $1 million in its second round—twice the inaugural fund—with grants of up to $30,000 for pre-production, $150,000 for production and $50,000 for post-release work. The South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC) announced the expansion on 6 October 2026; applications are scheduled to open on 21 October 2026.
How much is South Australia’s Digital Games Fund?
The second Digital Games Fund (DGF) round has a total pool of $1 million. The SAFC describes it as the state government’s largest-ever single investment in game development funding. The inaugural round, launched in October 2025, distributed $500,000 among 11 South Australian studios, according to the SAFC. SAFC announcement, 6 October 2026
The round is divided among three streams. The maximum grant is not the same as the total amount available to every applicant; the SAFC’s published stream caps are:
| Stream | Maximum grant | What it supports |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-production | Up to $30,000 | Exploring and proving a new game concept before full production. |
| Production | Up to $150,000 | Developing a sufficiently scoped game toward its next significant milestone, potentially including release. |
| Post-release | Up to $50,000 | Extending the commercial life, audience reach or platform availability of a released or near-release game. |
These are grant caps, not guaranteed award amounts. The SAFC Games program page says the fund opens once a year and applications are submitted through its online grants platform. The stated opening date for this round is 21 October 2026.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
#1 Best Overall
- 5 GAMES INCLUDED. UNLOCK MORE WITH PLAY PASS. Playground comes with Fruit Ninja, Starri, Whac-a-Mole, Go Keeper, and Party Fowl. A separate purchase of a 3-Month ($49) or 12-Month Play Pass ($89) is required to access the full catalog of games and get new games each month, including Barbie, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, How to Train Your Dragon, Peppa Pig, Care Bears, Elmo, Miraculous Ladybug, Gabby's Dollhouse, Kung Fu Panda and more.
- GET MOVING WITH ACTIVE FAMILY FUN. Nex Playground is a new kind of video game console that gets your family moving. It easily connects to your TV, transforming your living room into an active play space. Within minutes, your family will be playing Fruit Ninja, Whac-a-Mole and more. Using a built-in camera to track motion and natural body movements, anyone in the family can jump right in.
- JUST USE YOUR BODY TO PLAY. Play naturally just by moving your body. Playground uses the magic of AI to follow your movements using the built-in wide-angle camera. No controllers or clunky trackers! Up to 4 players can play at the same time, so everyone can get moving together.
- GAMES YOU'LL LOVE MOVING TO. Playground is packed with interactive motion games, turning your living room into an arcade, theme park, gym, and more. There is something for everyone. It is perfect for indoor family game night, after school activities, or a playdate with friends.
- EASY SET UP. Playground connects to your TV or projector with a simple HDMI connection and gets everyone in on the fun. It's small and sits elegantly on any console or mantle, and can easily fit in a backpack for playdates and more. From ages 5 and up—Playground is the life of every party.
Which stream fits your game project?
Pre-production: test whether the concept works
This stream is for early-stage work that helps establish a game’s creative and technical direction. Potential uses listed by the SAFC include early design, prototyping, technical proof of concept, art direction, narrative design, market research and planning. Applicants should be prepared to explain the concept and present a milestone budget and timeline.
Production: build toward a major milestone
Production funding is intended for teams already in, or about to enter, full production. The project needs to be sufficiently developed and appropriately scoped, with a credible path to an audience, market, release or further finance. The guidelines list a game design document, current game footage, an audience engagement plan, an accessibility plan and a marketing proposal among the materials for this stream.
Post-release: expand a game’s reach or life
This stream supports substantial work on released or near-release games. Examples include localisation, significant content additions, downloadable content, accessibility improvements, live-service updates and porting. Routine maintenance, minor patches and general operating costs are excluded unless they form part of a substantial, clearly defined strategy. Applicants are asked for items including the store page, latest playable build, performance summary, evidence of an existing audience and a plan for future growth.
Rank #2
- 6.2” LCD screen
- Three play modes: TV, tabletop, and handheld
- Local co-op, online, and local wireless multiplayer
- Detachable Joy-Con controllers
- Nintendo Switch is the home of Mario & friends
Stream descriptions and application materials are set out in the October 2026 DGF guidelines. Check those guidelines for the complete requirements for the stream you intend to apply to.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Who can apply, and which games are eligible?
The guidelines set separate conditions for individual and company applicants. An individual must be over 18, have an active Australian Business Number (ABN), not be a full-time student, hold the necessary rights and clearances, meet the SAFC’s definition of a South Australian resident, comply with its Terms of Trade and have no outstanding contractual obligations to the SAFC.
A company must be incorporated and carrying on business in Australia, with central management and control in Australia. It must also be registered in South Australia, have its principal place of business there for at least six months before applying, and be current with relevant government obligations.
Rank #3
- Kids Friendly Design: This P30S handheld game console is specially designed for kids. It has a stylish arcade - like appearance. The body fits a child's hand, and the game settings also cater to kids psychology, thus being very attractive.
- Excellent Gaming Experience: Equipped with a 3.0 - inch high - definition screen and excellent speaker sound, it provides an excellent visual and auditory experience for video games. This handheld game console is small and lightweight, convenient for kids to use and carry. Its ergonomic design ensures a comfortable grip, allowing children to fully enjoy the games.
- Rich Collection of Classic Games: This retro handheld game console contains 220 interesting kids video games, including various types such as entertainment, sports, and adventure games, just like those found in many retro game consoles. While playing these games, kids can cultivate skills such as hand - eye coordination, thinking, and problem - solving.
- Convenient Rechargeable and Long - lasting Battery: The video game console is equipped with an 860mAh lithium - ion battery. It ensures that kids can play games without interruption, because there is no need for frequent battery replacement, which is very suitable for playing portable games outdoors. It is a great addition to the world of handheld games for children and can bring more fun to them.
- Absolutely Surprising Gift: Our handheld game toy is a surprising gift for kids, teenagers, and even adults. It is the best gift for birthdays, Christmas, Halloween, and Thanksgiving. Customer satisfaction is our top priority. Our customer support team will serve you wholeheartedly.
Eligible projects must meet the fund’s game, team and rights conditions. In particular, the guidelines require:
- A digital game developed by a South Australian team, with at least 75% of the team primarily based in the state.
- Intended release in digital form and a moderate degree of game interactivity.
- Project intellectual property owned or licensed by the applicant.
- A non-retrospective funding request: costs already incurred are not eligible for retrospective support.
The guidelines exclude gambling and non-digital games; education-only or business-to-business products; projects not intended for commercial release; games based on external intellectual property the applicant does not own or license; certain student-led projects; games unlikely to receive Australian classification; and remasters or games that have already had a full retail release.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesWhat does the SAFC assess, and what can grant money pay for?
The SAFC lists creative originality and ambition; the quality of visuals, story, gameplay and audio; feasibility of the timeline and budget; the team’s development record; commercial potential and audience positioning; career pathways for South Australian residents; and accessibility among its assessment criteria. It says it weighs the criteria in light of its strategic objectives and diversity and inclusion strategy.
Rank #4
- Controllers are original OEM (not 3rd party)
- Tested and works well. Nice condition
Eligible costs include staffing, legal costs and licensing. Office hire, marketing, mentoring and external support are eligible only for production and post-release streams. Equipment purchases are explicitly excluded, including computers, laptops, developer kits, mice, monitors, headsets and gaming consoles. Education and travel are also excluded.
Before applying, the SAFC asks applicants to read its Terms of Trade and speak with the agency about their intended request. Confirm the current application requirements and use the online grants platform when the round opens.
What else is changing for South Australian game developers?
The 6 October announcement also introduced a Games Studio Placement Program, separate from the DGF. Eligible South Australian studios can seek salary and superannuation support for a six- or 12-month full-time placement for an emerging or mid-career developer. The program was expected to open later in 2026; the SAFC announcement and program page do not give a specific opening date.
Another separate support is the SA Video Game Development Rebate: a 10% discretionary rebate on eligible game development expenditure incurred and retained in South Australia, subject to available funds and a minimum of AUD $250,000 in qualifying eligible expenditure. The SAFC says the rebate has supported development of more than 40 South Australian video games. It has separate guidelines and eligibility rules, so it should not be treated as part of the DGF or as an automatic grant. SAFC Games program page
What the SAFC says the first round achieved
In its expansion announcement, the SAFC pointed to several projects associated with the inaugural round. It said Pro Jank Footy, by Powerbomb Games and Tinkertown, reached No. 1 on Nintendo Switch when it released in August and was also available on PlayStation, Xbox and Steam. The SAFC also reported that Bad Plan Studios’ End of Ember secured a publishing deal with Thailand-based Rising Tide Publishing, and that The Troll & The Witch’s House and Peppermint were selected for exhibition at PAX Aus and could be wishlisted on Steam at the time of the announcement. These are examples cited by the fund administrator, not independently verified sales or performance figures. SAFC announcement, 6 October 2026
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
