Named Greenshoots and supported by the Regional Growth Fund, the program offers up to 10 indie or start-up studios a cash injection of up to £25,000 to help develop and promote a game for smartphones and tablets.
Interestingly, despite Microsoft's involvement, games funded by the Greenshoots program are not required to be exclusive to Windows 8 or Windows Phone, meaning studios can also target iOS and Android.
Going green
In order to apply, a studio must meet certain qualifications.
They must have been in the games business for under five years and have an annual income less than £250,000.
Finally, they must be located in an eligible region of England - which includes the North West, North East, Yorkshire and Humberside, West Midlands, Warwickshire, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Bristol and Bath.
The pledged funds serve as an investment rather than a handout, however, but companies only pay back the investment once they're making money from the game.
Applications for the Greenshoots program are due on October 18 with funds to be allocated in November. Those interested in learning more can visit the program's official page.
