The studio behind Clash of Clans is putting serious money behind African game developers. Supercell, the Finnish studio behind Clash of Clans, Clash Royale and Brawl Stars, has opened its first Developer Grants Program for Africa. Registered studios can apply for R330,000 to R3.3 million (US$20,000 to US$200,000), with no equity or ownership taken. Your studio keeps its IP. Applications close on 9 August 2026.
Who qualifies
This is for legally registered game development studios only. Individual developers, hobby projects and unregistered teams cannot apply. Your studio’s primary operations and most of its team must be based in Africa, so South African studios are in. Previous investment or grant funding does not rule you out. A holding company outside Africa is also allowed if you explain the legal structure clearly.
Supercell is open to games across platforms and business models. Mobile, PC, console, premium, free-to-play and hybrid projects can all qualify.
What the money can cover
Salaries, contractors, art and design, engineering, audio, QA, software and tools, marketing and live-ops costs are all in scope. The important part is the freedom attached to the money: Supercell takes no equity or ownership, and your studio keeps its game and IP.
Why this matters here
For South African teams, this is more than a big headline number. The grant can pay for the work that gets a game out the door without forcing a small studio to give up a piece of the company or its creative rights. Supercell is also not limiting the programme to mobile or free-to-play games, so this is not only for teams building the next Clash of Clans.
How to apply
The application takes about an hour. Have a pitch deck, gameplay trailer or video, links to previous games, and a high-level funding plan and budget ready. A playable build is optional.
Applications are judged across five areas: team, game and creative vision, community and audience, potential for impact, and viability and use of funds. Shortlisted studios may be invited to an interview and asked for further documentation during due diligence.
R330k–R3.3m
Per studio, non-dilutive
3–5
Studios in this first cohort
9 Aug
Applications close, 23:59 UTC
If you run a registered studio, don’t leave this for deadline week. Get the pitch deck, gameplay video and high-level budget together, then apply on the official site.
If your studio is also chasing Google’s Indie Games Fund for Africa, that window closes even sooner, on 31 July. Read our earlier piece on that fund and line up both applications.
Sources: Supercell, Developer Grants Program, official announcement · TechCabal coverage. Rand figures converted at current exchange rates. Character artwork courtesy of Supercell.