In a significant boost for the German games industry, Rockfish Games, the Hamburg-based studio behind the popular Everspace series, has secured the largest single grant to date from the federal government’s funding program. Awarded a substantial €8 million, the studio will channel these resources into the development of the next chapter in its acclaimed space shooter franchise. This grant, drawn from the recently expanded €125 million games fund, underscores a strategic national effort to solidify Germany’s position as a hub for high-quality video game development, particularly within the independent and AA sectors.
Securing the Largest Grant for a New Everspace Title
Rockfish Games’ €8 million award represents the maximum grant available from the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR) program, which covers up to 50% of production and prototype costs for projects ranging from €300,000 to €8 million. This funding will be distributed over five years and covers nearly 45% of the development costs for the studio’s next project, which carries a total budget of approximately €20 million. For CEO and co-founder Michael Schade, this financial support is transformative. It enables the studio to remain fully independent and self-fund the remaining portion of the project’s cost, avoiding the need for publisher involvement or significant creative compromise.
The Role of a Robust Prototype in the Application
A critical factor in securing such a substantial grant was Rockfish’s forward-thinking approach during the application process. While preparing its submission, the team was simultaneously developing a prototype for the next Everspace title. This working model demonstrated the team’s technical ambition and capability by introducing several brand-new features to the series, providing the grant evaluators with a tangible proof of concept. The studio also submitted a detailed quarterly milestone plan, which is now overseen by DLR Projektträger (DLR-PT), Germany’s national research centre, to monitor progress and ensure accountability.
Strategic Allocation of the €8 Million Grant
The infusion of capital provides Rockfish Games with long-term stability as it transitions from a small to a mid-sized studio. The funding is earmarked for several strategic areas crucial for sustainable growth. Primarily, it supports team expansion; in the last six months alone, Rockfish has added ten new members, comprising both full-time employees and experienced developers from co-development studios. Schade emphasizes the importance of manageable growth to maintain a positive studio culture and ensure successful integration of all team members.
Beyond hiring, the grant will finance upskilling current staff, improvements to the cinematic process in the upcoming game, enhanced marketing efforts, and covering essential operational tasks. This comprehensive financial backing allows the studio to scale its ambitions without sacrificing its core identity or operational independence.
Preserving Creative Independence and Vision
For Schade, the most critical aspect of the grant is that it solidifies Rockfish’s independence. This autonomy allows the studio to make development choices that best fit its team, react swiftly to fan feedback and market needs, and execute a title that aligns closely with its original creative vision. Independence allows us to make choices that best fit the studio and team, react to fans’ wants and market needs faster, and create a title that is closest to our vision, Schade states. He clarifies that while this doesn’t signal an immediate foray into multiple titles or cross-media projects, it does provide the financial security to explore such possibilities in the future. Furthermore, this stability strengthens the studio’s position to negotiate better platform deals and secure stronger visibility globally, continuing to represent Germany as a premier developer of space games.
Complementary Funding: The Role of Game Pass and Early Access
While the government grant is pivotal, Rockfish has historically utilized other funding avenues to great success. For both previous Everspace titles, crowdfunding provided the initial launchpad. Schade also highlights the significant role of Xbox Game Pass, which supported Everspace 2’s production runway, enabling additional content and polish across all platforms. Although the involvement of Game Pass in the next project is not yet decided, the studio’s strong relationship with Xbox remains a valuable asset.
Similarly, Early Access development has been an integral part of Rockfish’s process. The direct feedback from dedicated fans investing in a work-in-progress title has been immensely valuable in shaping the final product. Schade asserts that he can hardly imagine not employing Early Access again, viewing it as a crucial tool for community-driven development.
The German AA Advantage and Industry Growth
Michael Schade is a vocal advocate for the AA segment of the games industry, and he sees the German government’s funding program as a masterstroke in fostering this sector. He argues that the oversight and rigorous approval process associated with the grant actually benefit studios by pushing teams to plan more efficiently, thereby setting projects up for greater commercial and artistic success. Government support creates a space where small and mid-sized companies can begin and thrive, he notes.
By supporting AA studios with lower investment costs but high creative flexibility, the program is designed to yield a direct financial return to the government. It creates high-paying jobs across numerous companies, fosters technological innovation, and showcases German creativity on the world stage. While there is a local desire to see AAA studios take root in Germany, Schade believes the current focus on a robust indie and AA ecosystem, supported by initiatives like the BMFTR grant, is a healthier and more strategically sound path for sustained industry growth.
The €8 million grant awarded to Rockfish Games is more than just funding for a single space shooter; it is a testament to a successful policy framework that empowers creative independence and strategic growth. By providing substantial, non-dilutive capital to a proven studio, the German program validates the AA development model, ensuring that studios can pursue ambitious visions while contributing to a vibrant, economically sustainable, and globally competitive national games industry. For Rockfish, this means the next Everspace adventure will be crafted with greater ambition and polish, free from the constraints that often accompany alternative financing, securing the studio’s future as an independent leader in its field.
