Jest Launches Million Dollar Games Fund To Fuel Expansion Of RCS Messaging App Marketplace

The Jest Games Fund launches to support studios building for the RCS messaging ecosystem with up to $1M in funding and 90% revenue share.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 24, 2026, 6:27 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from GamesIndustry.biz

Innovative Funding Model For The Messaging Game Frontier

The emerging marketplace Jest, which specializes in games utilizing SMS and RCS texting protocols, has officially debuted the Jest Games Fund. This strategic move aims to incentivize game studios to build interactive experiences specifically tailored for the mobile messaging ecosystem. Unlike traditional publishing deals, Jest emphasizes a developer friendly approach by taking zero equity and requiring no transfer of intellectual property. This allows studios to maintain creative control while tapping into a platform that subsidizes 100 percent of the technical text delivery costs.

Tiered Investment Stages For Scalable Game Development

The fund is structured into three distinct progression stages rather than rigid categories, allowing for flexible growth based on a title's market performance. The initial "Explore" stage provides a $40,000 investment to validate a game's viability on the Jest platform. Successful titles can then advance to the "Scale" tier, receiving up to $200,000, while breakout hits may qualify for the "Flagship" stage, which offers up to $1 million in support. According to the company, these funds are primarily allocated toward user acquisition budgets and onboarding services to ensure high visibility.

Technical Integration And Mobile Web Compatibility

To qualify for the fund, developers are not required to create entirely new titles; existing games currently live on other platforms are eligible for submission. The fundamental technical requirement is a mobile web build that can successfully integrate with the proprietary Jest SDK. This accessibility allows studios to port established projects into the messaging environment with minimal friction. Furthermore, Jest provides hands-on partner support through dedicated communication channels to assist with the transition of these assets into the RCS space.