Sony opens Soneium incubation programme for entertainment startups

The application period runs from October 29 through December 2026, with screening scheduled for November to March. Selected projects can receive technical, commercial and marketing support tailored to their needs.

Sony Group has opened its Onchain Entertainment Incubation Program to startups and creators developing entertainment products and services. The initiative is built around Soneium: projects must already use the blockchain or plan to launch on it. It is therefore a specific ecosystem programme, rather than an unrestricted development fund for any game.

Sony's October 29 announcement describes support for commercialisation, including access to Soneium infrastructure, possible collaboration with Sony Group companies, business development, marketing, community engagement and fundraising opportunities. The company says the package will be discussed with each selected project. Access to fundraising is not a promise that every participant will receive an investment.

The stated selection criteria include the originality of the entertainment experience, use of intellectual property, community building, business scalability, the team's track record and the competitive landscape. Products and services, including applications and infrastructure, are within scope. Sony frames the programme around relationships between creators, fans, content and digital assets.

The company says two earlier incubation programmes supported 43 projects worldwide. The new initiative narrows that experience toward entertainment; the figure is Sony's account of its previous programmes, not a forecast for this intake.

The application period ends in December, but the release does not specify a closing day or hour. Screening is planned from November 2026 to March 2027, with possible schedule changes. Teams should use the official programme website to check the current application form, regional availability and detailed participation conditions before applying.