The UK Games Talent and Finance CIC has opened up the fourth round of its UK Games Fund to help studios develop new prototypes.

The new round of funding grants up to £25,000 ($36,000) to established developers who have already completed some pre-production on the game. The fund has already given grants to over 70 developers across the country who successfully pitched their prototype.

New to this round of funding is the Pitch Development Programme, which is aimed at newer developers without the experience required for the full funding. Teams cannot apply for both the new programme and the full Games Fund.

Successful applicants will be given £5,000 ($7,100) and a place at an unannounced consumer games show later in 2018, as well as the chance to pitch their games at the end of the programme for the full Games Fund grant.

Broadening support

"We're keen to broaden our support to help new talent in addition to well-established studios," said UK Games Fund head Paul Durrant.

"Our new Pitch Development Programme is designed to help those potential applicants that don't meet the current criteria to still be in with a chance of joining our portfolio."

The British government pledged another £1 million ($1.43 million) towards the UK Games Fund back in November 2017. The additional funding has extended the program into 2020.