Cygames to start paying $750 per month to Japanese students aspiring to become game devs

Cygames has launched a special scholarship program for Japanese students aspiring to become game developers. This includes monetary payments and internships.

Uma Musume Pretty Derby

As some Japanese media reported on March 13, Cygames’ Game Creator Scholarship Program is aimed at first- and second-year university students. The company is now collecting applications for the first year, which will begin in July 2023.

Students who meet the requirements will  receive ¥100,000 (around $754) a month for one year. The program also includes visits to Cygames’ offices and internships.

Overall, 30 students will participate in the first year of the Game Creator Scholarship Program.

“I came up with the idea of ​​the Cygames Game Creator Scholarship Program because I wanted to help and support talented and inquisitive students, and also because I wanted them to be interested in the future of the games industry and Cygames,” Cygames senior managing director Yuito Kimura said in a statement. “It would be great if you could improve your creative skills with the scholarship you received, but I would be happy if you could work hard on your university studies before that and grow up to be a respectable member of society.”

Established in 2011 by Japanese web services company CyberAgent, Cygames is a video game developer best known for mobile games like Shadowverse, Princess Connect! Re:Dive, and horse racing/life sim game Uma Musume Pretty Derby. The latter was on track to reach $2 billion in lifetime revenue last year, one of the fastest mobile titles ever to hit this mark.