In a previous article (German version here), we presented the games that have received funding from the German government (formerly from the BMVI and the BMDV). In this article, we would like to introduce you to those companies based in Bavaria that have so far received a Produktionsförderung (production funding) from the German government – the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action – as part of the new, large-volume computer games funding.

Up to now (December 19, 2022) , the federal government has supported 411 games via computer games funding since 2019. This combines the previous de-minimis funding and the new production funding (since September 2020). In total 64 games from Bavaria have been funded through both funding methods. The computer games industry is growing constantly – and thus more and more new companies are being founded. Innovations in the areas of technology, culture and business are becoming apparent.

“However, despite rising overall sales in the sector, the market share of German games companies is shrinking. Likewise, the absolute number of people employed in this industry in Germany is also declining or stagnating” – according to the former BMDV. Because of this, funding, such as that provided by the FFF Bayern, is essential to support and maintain German companies in the computer games industry.

Update from July 8, 2021: While one project is already receiving funding since March 1, it has only now appeared in the database: another VR project from Bavaria is also receiving production funding from the Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and Transport. This brings the total amount of new BMDV funding for game development in the Free State to a total of 7,799,622 euros, distributed among thirteen projects.

Three projects even receive more than 1 million EUR and we congratulate all the teams that receive funding from the BMDV as part of the federal government’s large-volume computer games funding.

Update from August 30, 2021: Two more projects have been supported by the BMDV production funding since the beginning of July. You already got to know one of the two projects in our Newsflash. The amount of funding increases to 10.492.484 Euro. Thus, the now 15 projects together have received a funding of over ten million euros.

Update from October 22, 2021: A total of 300 games have now been supported by the Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and Transport since 2019 (De-minimis and high-volume production funding by the BMDV). Three new games from Bavaria have been funded through the production funding, bringing the total to 18. The funding amount for games mae in Bavaria grows to 12,286,789 Euro with the new projects.

Update from February 02, 2022: New game projects could also receive production funding in 2022. This is now from the BMDV (Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs and Transport) and no longer from the BMVI (Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure). Apart from the name, nothing has changed for you – all applications, deadlines, etc. remain the same. Four new projects have been funded so far in 2022.

Update from June 14, 2022: Via an article in Games Wirtschaft, we were able to identify yet another Bavarian game that will receive funding from the federal government. Tropico 7 has been granted almost two million Euros!

This brings the total of 23 games with production funding to 14,668,075 euros.

To fund a project of one’s own, support can be requested through production funding. For each year, the BMDV provides 50,000,000 euros in funding here according to its budget. This amount is also reflected in the new funding method, production funding: Now larger projects can also be funded – with sums in the six- or even eight-digit range. The previous funding via de-minimis, for smaller and medium-sized projects, has been completed in this regard. The money from the production funding is intended to make German games more competitive internationally. Furthermore, the number of German computer game developments should continue to increase.

Requirements for possible support are a German location of the developer studio, a corporation in the form of UG, GmbH or AG and the object of support as a prototype or production of a computer game whose development has not yet begun. The production funding is a non-repayable grant, which amounts to a maximum of 50% of the development costs. All detailed information on how to apply for the production grant can be found here. It’s worth taking a look: “The first projects were launched at the beginning of December 2020. We look forward to receiving further applications!”, says Federal Minister Scheuer.

Now we would like to present you the Bavarian games that have received a production funding approval within the framework of the large-volume computer games funding from the federal government. Congratulations!

To start with, Codename Süßkartoffel (Codename Sweet Potato) by the Munich-based company Mimimi Games GmbH is to be mentioned. The federal government’s computer game funding program will support the production of the real-time tactics game from 12/01/2020 to 6/30/2023 with a funding amount of 2,025,942 euros. Also on 12/01/2020, Mimimi Games announced their third project called Codename Süßkartoffel, which will be independently published by the company for the first time. After the successful games Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun (2016) and Desperados III (2020), the developers remain faithful to the genre of real-time tactical games, but now entirely under the motto: 100% made by Mimimi – from art, to code, design, production and marketing.

The rogue-lite action game Sweet Surrender, which is produced by Salmi GmbH, also receives funding. In the shooter game, the player moves through an intuitive movement system within randomly generated areas. Various enemies in the world appear in combination with a futuristic design. The game encourages creative solutions to the hurdles posed. The BMDV supports this project from 03/01/2021 to 11/30/2021 with a sum of 120,867.53 euros. Further insights into the game and its development can be gained at the company’s developer blog. Sweet Surrender has also already received funding under de-minimis in 2020.

The turn-based strategy game Knights of Cathena by fivefingergames GmbH from Deggendorf received production funding of 119,114 euros for one year (01/01/2021 to 12/31/2021). The aim of the game is to defeat the enemy army and their king. The company already published a trailer for the predecessor game Steemknights, which is considered to be the source of ideas for Knights of Cathena. The project is a turn-based strategy game in which players try to overthrow the opponent’s king by means of their army – the figures having different strengths/weaknesses and being equipped with various items – on a chessboard-like playing field. The beta version is planned for Q4/2021.

Horse Club™ Adventures goes into the second round! After the success of the predecessor, Wild River Games GmbH from Munich is developing a second part of the series. Horse Club™ Adventures 2 is a 3D open-world game of the action/adventure genres. The characters are based on the well-known Horse Club toy series from the Schleich company. The sequel of the game brings new role-playing elements, mini-games and collecting features. Furthermore, there are new areas and characters to discover in the world. The Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and Transport is supporting the second part with a sum of 546,749 euros from 03/01/2021 to 08/31/2022.

Also receiving funding was the turn-based strategy game Steamfleet Armada 1893 from NeoBird GmbH & Co. KG (Nuremberg). The game’s historically inspired setting includes a fictional parallel world in 1832, the chosen year coinciding with the invention of Charles Babbage’s steam-powered calculating machine. Players can look forward to deep sea battles with rouge-lite elements. The funding amounts to 192,032 euros and covers the period from 03/01/2021 to 09/30/2022.

Munich-based Realmforge Studios GmbH is working on Dungeons 4, the fourth installment of the globally successful Dungeons series, the first iteration of which was released in 2011. The BMDV is providing 1,843,684 euros in funding for the period from 04/01/2021 to 06/30/2024. The strategy game is to be released for PC and Mac as well as consoles. Players take on the role of the Absolute Evil and plan to bring the forces of good to their knees. To do this, they build a dungeon underground as their base, where they mine gold and other resources. Enemies must be stopped from destroying the dungeon heart – alone or in a team.

Travian Legends is the world-famous building strategy MMO for the browser, and Travian Legends: Mobile is the port of the title for iOS and Android platforms, which many game players have been eagerly awaiting. The grant project is worth 1,042,054 euros and covers the technical development as well as the adaptation of the controls for an optimal user experience on the smartphone. It runs from 04/01/2021 to 01/31/2024. Game players begin their adventure as a chieftain in ancient times by expanding their own village. Through skillful trade, building an army and forging alliances, players develop a powerful empire and battle hundreds of opponents for mysterious blueprints and the completion of the legendary world wonder.

Seven Sins is the new project from Bonus Level Entertainment UG (Munich). The adventure platformer is to be released for PC, Mac as well as consoles and its production is funded by the BMDV with 378,071 euros, with the duration being from 04/01/2021 to 09/30/2022. Moreover, the concept for Seven Sins has already been funded by the FFF. In it, players act as an investigative cleric who can enter people’s minds in fable form in order to fight the seven deadly sins and save the medieval village from the plague! A unique 2D art style in lead glass style, an emotional story with surprising twists and inspiration from the paintings of painter Hieronymus Bosch are the main features of the game.

Munich-based K5 Factory GmbH is currently working on a new title called Swish VR, which has already received funding from FFF. It is a VR/AR/MR, skill game and sports game where basketball meets arcade in interactive, vivid and surreal environments that are redesigned abstractions of European cities. The player’s mission is to conquer all these basketball courts in Europe. The project is funded with 287,384 euros with a duration from 04/01/2021 to 05/31/2022.

Reality Twist GmbH from Munich has already received funding for various projects from the FFF and the de-minimis program. For the development of The Converge Experiment, the BMDV is providing a total of 64,906 euros for the period from 04/01/2021 to 09/30/2023. The mobile game falls into the genres of adventure, role-playing and strategy games. In the narrative and cooperative real-time game, players can act together or pursue their own mission objectives and complete procedurally combined missions in the setting of a prisoner transport spaceship. The game draws an allegorical parable of the complexity of contemporary political and social decisions.

A company new to us in the Bavarian developer landscape is Serapion GmbH from Munich. The company has received 210,486 euros from the BMDV for the adventure learning game Adaptive Hero: an adaptive storytelling game over the period from 04/01/2021 to 09/30/2022. The game is being developed for mobile and the Nintendo Switch and is designed for children between the ages of 5 and 15. Game players take on the role of a hero character capable of learning and adapting, exploring their surroundings and learning about other characters and their stories. As an Adaptive Hero, players can befriend, interact with, and learn things from real or fabled characters that are necessary for further progress in the game. The associated learning process on cultural-historical topics takes place in a playful manner.

Congratulations to all funded projects. This list will be continuously expanded as new projects are announced.

Upjers GmbH can also benefit from federal production funding for its new project Mega Monument Constructor. Here, players are responsible for the creation of buildings – whether adapted from the real world or designed completely new. Coordinating resources, employees and the player’s own construction yard are also among the tasks. With friendships, guilds and quests, the social level is not neglected in the game either. They receive 373,518 euros from 07/01/2021 to 06/30/2023.

HOLOGATE GmbH has secured production funding for the VR game SiegVried – Escape Valhalla. The project is an adventure for up to 6 players who enter the virtual reality world as heroes. The adventure takes place on the HOLOGATE X platform, a VR entertainment platform of up to 100 square meters, where players can move freely in virtual reality and immerse themselves in the game. Hands, feet and bodies are equipped with trackers that transmit every movement directly into the game world. Players will be able to see and interact with each other in VR, talk and go on adventures. The project will receive 594,814 euros from 03/01/2021 to 12/31/2021.

Grimlore Games GmbH was also able to secure production funding with the title Project Minerva. Especially fans of mythology will get their money’s worth with this game, as Greek, Persian and also Egyptian mythological creatures will be present, which have to be fought. The development of the action role-playing game has been promised a remarkable 2,594,565.00 euros over a period of two and a half years (07/01/2021 to 03/31/2024). This project is thus entitled to the highest funding amount to date.

Suspicious Games GmbH also won funding with their new project Saligia. Here, players find themselves in a new, unknown, but fantastic world. Within the different areas, the players have the task of searching for lost memories. This also involves getting to know the provinces through the associated stories. Saligia combines the narration of (negative) human emotions with a challenging, strategic fight against the monster hordes of Erydia. Various tactical decisions can be made through freely selectable abilities. The project is funded by the BMDV with a total of 98.297,00 euros from 07/01/2021 to 04/30/2022.

Chimera Entertainment GmbH has received a production funding for Realms At War (working title). The turn-based strategy game for PC can be played as either single- or multiplayer and combines elements of 4X and RogueLite. Players lead different factions and their heroes. Through randomly generated cards, the game does not lose its tension and the climax is shown in a victory or defeat of the battle, which results from hundreds of warriors. Especially the graphical aspect proves to be unique: Chimera Entertainment takes inspiration from art of art nouveau and creates a unique visual experience. The funding is from 02/01/2021 to 04/30/2023 with a grand sum of 1.492.238,00 euros.

Weltenwandler Designagentur GmbH was also granted a funding for the production of their project Venice After Dark. Already the conception of the idea was supported by the de-minimis funding until the end of 2020. Now the interactive visual novel will also receive federal funding for the next step. Players are represented by the AI programmer Aiko. She flees from her broken private life and meets various characters again in the city of Venice. She is startled to discover that an unsolved murder case is connected to her own created technology. The mystery game is characterized by coordinated music and graphics with a charming style. More information can be found here on the game’s website or here at the annoucement teaser. The game is funded with a sum of 102.067,00 euros within the period from 08/01/2021 to 07/31/2023.

Industry Giant 4.0 by Don VS Dodo GmbH also receives production funding. Players have to adjust the complex production chains of different goods according to supply and demand. The game includes the management of various internal areas such as costs, capacity, transport route and goods distribution. With successful planning and implementation of the players, the industries grow so that they gain complexity. The funding period is from 08/01/2021 to 04/30/2022 with a sum of 200.000 euros.

The production of the visual novel Hauma by SenAm Games AG UG from Munich also receives funding. The lead role is played by police officer Judith Hartmann. In the middle of a murder case, she is dismissed from duty on suspicion of drug possession and an accident. In the process, she fights her depression and wants to solve the case on her own – but in doing so, she gets caught up in a millennia-old conspiracy. Learn more about Judith’s family history and encounter familiar locations in Munich. The funding of 80,578.00 euros runs from 11/01/2021 to 08/31/2022.

Let’s continue with games whose action takes place in Germany. Zeitreise durch Deutschland (Time Travel through Germany) is currently being produced by Metanoia GmbH from Grünwald. In the multiplayer game for smartphones, players can find historically significant sections of Germany’s contemporary history. The focus is also drawn in 3D comic style, which is also reflected in the world map that graphically depicts the course of the game. During your exploration, you are accompanied by the humorous mentor and storyteller named Prof. Zwergberg. The game is intended to bring people together digitally and also analogously, while at the same time focusing on German cultural history. The funding amount of 41,473.00 euros covers a period from 11/01/2021 to 08/31/2022.

From history to music we move in the rhythm and music game called MusicStar from Trollgames GmbH (Füssen). The player takes the role of an unknown musician at the beginning. In order to become better known and a minor celebrity, the game end must prove himself with a good sense of rhythm and reflexes. You get virtual money for each level, which you can invest in your band and equipment. The contract period is from 11/01/2021 to 08/31/2022 with an associated sum of 90,422.00 euros.

A high-quality next-gen action adventure game is what www.handy-games.com GmbH wants to realize with their new game Codename Eisenfaust (Codename Ironfirst). The players find themselves in the role of an elite soldier exiled by the authorities and have to fight various battles against different types of opponents. Particular emphasis is placed on cinematic story, which tells the rebellion against the authorities in a thrilling way in a dystopian sci-fi universe. A funding of 196.987,00 euros could be secured for the period from 12/01/2021 to 02/28/2023.

Nine World Studios, the subsidiary company of Kalypso Media, had the pleasure of receiving a large amount of funding in the middle of the year 2022: Their build-up strategy game Tropico 7, which is being developed in Munich, was already announced in September 2021. This makes it the seventh main game in the Tropico series. Players can expect to find themselves on the island state of the same name. In this game, they will also play the role of “El Presidente” and ensure that the island achieves wealth. Which further innovations but also known features will be found, has not yet been published. In the year 2023 the game is supposed to be finished – the federation supports the project with 1.971.826 €.

We congratulate all projects that received funding. This list will be continuously expanded as new projects are announced.