NYC Game Design Future Lab

In partnership with the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), the Game Design Future Lab (GDFL) builds a vibrant and inclusive community that positions New York City as a gaming capital. Gaming is at the heart of so many things: play, storytelling and narration, music, art and animation, training, education, and rehabilitation. GDFL strives to grow, support, and inspire knowledge sharing, foster creativity, and celebrate NYC's diversity of people and cultures. Through collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to excellence, GDFL is an environment where community and industry connect, thrive, and drive the future of digital gaming.

GDFL offers a 1-year in-person program designed to help digital gaming and creative technology startups reach their goals by providing desk space, in-person staff support, academic and industry mentorship, networking opportunities, investor guidance, tailored workshops, and office hours. Each cohort consists of up to eight companies across two tracks: Game Studios and Platform & Creative Technology.

Our inaugural cohort was selected and began the program in Fall 2025, and will conclude in Fall 2026. The startups have had support in attending Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, visibility across many NYC-based events, and introductions to investors/advisors as well as high-touch mentorship and programming -- as well as building a real sense of community!

We are recruiting for our second cohort now, applications are open from July 15 - August 7, 2026. Apply now, or sign up for our info session on July 30 to learn more. Email game.design.future.lab@nyu.edu with any questions.

November 2025- October 2026

Participants in the incubator receive:

• Support in growing their business through high-touch mentoring and structured weekly check-ins.
• Dedicated regular programming, guest visits, and more across two soft tracks -- one for game studios, and one for playful tech platforms.
• An equity-free program
• A 15-year track record of mentoring start-ups across various sectors, with a 93% success rate for businesses five years after founding (inverse of the national average)  
• Dedicated desk space for up to two founders at the NYU Future Labs in Downtown Brooklyn, NY
• Access to startup benefits (such as AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and Hubspot credits)
• Support in applying for the New York State Digital Game Development Program an as-of-right tax credit of 25 – 35% for digital game designers developing projects in NYS

Who can apply to the second cohort?

• You're a NYC-based company — or able to participate in NYC for the duration of the program
• You fit one of our two tracks: Game Studios or Platform & Creative Technology
• You're available to participate in Selection Day (September 3, 2026) and the full program.

When are applications due?

Applications open Tuesday, July 15, 2026, and are due Friday, August 7, 2026 at 5pm ET. The program starts November 2, 2026 at NYU Tandon in Brooklyn.

 

What's the difference between the Game Studios and Platform & Creative Technology tracks?

Game Studios is for companies building a digital game — any genre, any platform, whether you're pre-launch or iterating on a shipped title. This track is for teams whose core product is the game itself.

Platform & Creative Technology is for companies building tools, platforms, or technology that serve the games and playful-creative ecosystem, rather than a game itself — including game creation tools, player-facing technology, and interactive or immersive media platforms (e.g., XR tools for creators, social/creative platforms adjacent to gaming).

When you apply, you'll select the track that matches your product, and the application will route you to a set of questions tailored to that track — covering things like traction, business model, and stage of development in the terms that make sense for a game vs. a platform/product.

Is the NYC Game Design Future Lab part of NYU?

Yes! The GDFL is led by the NYU Tandon Future Labs, part of the Tandon School of Engineering. Future Labs is a startup incubator network founded with initial funding from NYCEDC.

How can the Game Design Future Lab help me?

Launching a startup is a herculean task; making it successful can be even more challenging -- and this is especially true in the games space in 2026 and beyond. The NYC Game Design Future Lab helps you get your company off the ground and on the right trajectory with advice, hands-on mentorship, and a growing network of collaborators and support — plus exposure within the VC and investment community, or whichever model of growth is right for your company.

What makes the NYC Game Design Future Lab different from other incubators?

The NYC Game Design Future Lab stands apart because we offer a comprehensive program that includes:

• Industry experts as mentors — veterans of the gaming industry providing insight and guidance
• Customized guidance tailored to each company's specific needs and stage
• Access to cutting-edge tools, software, and hardware
• A strong network of researchers, academics, publishers, distributors, and other key industry players
• A collaborative environment where founders share ideas and work together
• Targeted business development — strategy, monetization, and revenue models
• Workshops and training on key aspects of game development and studio operations
• Post-incubation support to help you navigate scaling
• A real community with other NYC GDFL founders and alumni.

Will I be given a workspace?

Up to two founders per company are given free desk space at the Future Labs communal space at NYU Tandon's Brooklyn location. You'll join a cohort of entrepreneurs from other Future Labs incubators working in AI, cybersecurity, clean energy, veterans' ventures, and more.

Check out the esteemed Advisory Board for the NYC Game Design Future Lab.