Nate Pacyga had a big thought inside a cathedral, where he saw donors credited by their support of the Bath Abbey in the United Kingdom. He wondered why that can’t happen in video games.

As game developers build their monumental creations, Pacyga thought that players could also get credit for their contributions inside the game. And so Minneapolis-based Game Monument was born.

In an interview with GamesBeat, Pacyga said he hopes the game development funding platform will change the way games are funded and how players connect with the titles they love. It’s an ambitious and clever project, executed so far by Pacyga alone.

“I want the gaming industry to be able to raise more money,” he said. “We need a platform to enable that. so people can make it easy for them to sell these to their players.”

With over two decades of experience as a video game engineer, Pacyga has seen the industry struggle with securing funding, standing out in the crowded game discovery landscape, and building meaningful communities. Game Monument addresses these challenges by creating a unique platform where players can leave a lasting mark on the games they support.

The concept for Game Monument was born during Pacyga’s visit to Bath Abbey in England in August 2024. He was surrounded by centuries-old commemorative plaques and monuments. This experience sparked a revelation: “Why not bring this timeless concept of legacy to video games?” said Pacyga.

“This happens a lot in European cathedrals. They covered the walls with plaques and monuments. The stories were there for hundreds of years,” he said. “I thought I could do a cathedral level in a shooter game. I said wait, ‘Why not do these plaques in a video game. Or any video game.’”

He did research on the topic. On Kickstarter, you can reward players with pillar or statues for those who contributed money to a certain tier.

Game Monument allows players to purchase and personalize in-game monuments —ranging from grand statues and plaques to everyday objects like signs, collectibles, or even a simple brick in a street. Each monument can be customized with the player’s name and message, becoming a permanent part of the game world for all to discover.

For developers, Game Monument offers an intuitive software development kit (SDK) that integrates effortlessly with the platform’s backend, making it easy to implement monument campaigns within games. As an engineer actively developing his own third-person shooter game, Pacyga understands the tools needed to ensure superior functionality for developers.

“This isn’t just another platform,” said Pacyga. “It’s a new way for players to leave their mark on the games they love while supporting the developers who create them. Built for both gamers and developers, Game Monument has the potential to transform the gaming industry, and we want you to be part of it from day one.”

Developers are invited to join the Game Monument email list at GameMonument.com to be among the first to get funded on the platform and play a role in shaping the future of player-supported game development.

By allowing players to purchase and personalize in-game monuments, Game Monument not only supports game development but also fosters deeper player engagement and community building.

I asked him if the player has to earn a plaque. He had not yet considered that, but it’s possible. But if you contribute $1,000 toward a character in the game, you might have that character named in your owner.

“It’s a funding platform to engage with your audience. It’s whatever developers want to do to honor the players. You can have a credit level like a Game Monument supporter level. People can see it when they play the game. Here’s Jim Johnson’s dedication to his grandma. Whatever people want to say.”

You can’t say bad things like insult another player. About 90% to 92% of the money collected by Game Monument will go toward the developers. Like Kickstarter, Game Monument will take a 5% fee, and the fee for payment could be 3% to 5%, Pacyga said.

“That’s a pretty appealing share of the revenues,” he said. “We want the developers to get as much revenue as possible. We see it for indies and mid-level companies. Maybe they can generate $1 million to $2 mil toward the the budget for a game production. But I could also see it working with Call of Duty or Diablo. Who wouldn’t want to have their name in the game?”

So far, Pacyga is the only one on the team. He’s been working as a product engineer for 20 years across various companies.

“I can build anything and am product focused,” he said. “I’m bootstrapping it now. With the tools I have now, I am optimistic. There is no better time to be a game developer.”

He is looking for more funding and perhaps more colleagues. He has a prototype and will say later when the product will be ready to ship.