Vancouver, B.C. (April 10, 2026) — Today, Creative BC announces the first round of recipients selected to receive funding for the Video Games Early Stage Growth Program (the Program), supporting six British Columbia-based emerging video game companies with funding totaling $300,000 in support.
This new program is designed specifically to help new studios that are still establishing their foothold in the market. By offering a strategic boost, the program will strengthen long-term sustainability and build capacity for ongoing content creation, positioning B.C. companies for future success in an increasingly competitive global industry.
This funding will help emerging B.C. studios advance core development work, including prototyping, level and gameplay design, art and audio production, and QA testing. Companies will also use this support to hire local talent, build or refine technical infrastructure, strengthen business operations such as legal and accounting services, and prepare for launch through marketing, community engagement, localization, and more.
The program is part of Creative BC’s ongoing commitment to support B.C.-owned and controlled companies in developing their own creative intellectual property, while also helping new companies enter the market, expand their operations, and build toward long-term growth and sustainability.
The following B.C. companies will receive $50,000 each in funding:
- We Were Monkeys, Vernon
- 2TG Entertainment Inc., Vancouver
- Let Us Cook Games, Coquitlam
- Secret Plan Games, Victoria
- Dogfish Games, Port Coquitlam
- Bramvale Studios, Burnaby
View a list of the recipients by program online here.
To learn more about the Video Games Early Stage Growth Program, visit Creative BC’s website: www.creativebc.com/video-games-early-stage-growth/
The Program is supported by the Province of British Columbia’s historic $42M investment announced in April 2023, which included $3M dedicated to supporting innovation and growth among independent B.C.-owned interactive digital media companies.
Quotes:
Honourable Anne Kang, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, and Sport
“British Columbia’s video game sector is powered by creative innovators developing bold ideas for global markets. This funding supports emerging studios to turn those ideas into games, hire local talent, and build sustainable companies here in B.C. By supporting early stage growth, we’re addressing a clear gap in the industry and helping B.C.-made games reach players around the world, generating long-term positive benefits for the B.C. economy.”
Prem Gill, CEO, Creative BC
“We’re proud to support six emerging B.C. video game studios through the first intake of the Video Games Early Stage Growth Program. This funding is helping new companies strengthen their foundations by advancing development, hiring local talent, building technical capacity, and preparing for launch, activities that directly support local jobs and long‑term industry growth. With support from the Province of British Columbia, we are enabling early‑stage studios to develop creative IP, grow sustainably, and bring new B.C.-made games to market in an increasingly competitive global industry.”
Nancy Duguay and Fred Howard, Owners, Let Us Cook Games, Program Recipients
“Being selected for the Creative BC Video Games Early Stage Growth Program means so much as a tiny, self-funded studio working on our debut title Portabellows. We’ve long-dreamt of releasing a game of our own and we are super thankful this grant exists to support and encourage emerging game studios in B.C. with that same dream. The funding will offset our business startup costs and allow us to focus and improve on what’s most important and what we love doing in a sustainable way: developing and shipping an uplifting game for players to enjoy!”
Media Contacts
Lisa Escudero
Creative BC
media@creativebc.com
+1 604-730-2235
Featured image: Dogfish Games.
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About Creative BC
Creative BC is an independent society created and supported by the Province to sustain and help grow British Columbia’s creative industries: motion picture, interactive and digital media, music and sound recording, and magazine and book publishing. The organization delivers a wide range of programs and services with a mandate to expand B.C.’s creative economy. These activities include: administration of the provincial government’s motion picture tax credit programs; delivery of program funding and export marketing support for the sector; and provincial film commission services. Combined, these activities serve to attract inward investment and market B.C. as a partner and destination of choice for domestic and international content creation. The agency acts as an industry catalyst and ambassador to help B.C.’s creative sector reach its economic, social, environmental, and creative potential both at home and globally. Website: www.creativebc.com.