Turkish Gaming Renaissance
Exploring Strategic Milestones in Turkey’s Thriving Gaming Ecosystem
The Turkish gaming scene has gone through some big changes, as detailed in a report called “The State of Turkish Startup Ecosystem” by Invest in Turkey. Originally focused on mobile gaming, especially hyper-casual games, there’s been a noticeable shift. This change is shown by less hyper-casual game developers at events and an increase in PC and console game development.
Gaming startups like Peak and Gram Games have inspired more entrepreneurs and received a lot of investment, showing that the market is growing.
In addition, the ecosystem benefits from a strong network of incubation centers, schools, and government efforts. Schools that provide courses in digital game design and technology have been crucial in developing talent. At the same time, government support through funding and initiatives has fueled the industry’s fast expansion.
The global acknowledgment of the Turkish gaming industry can be seen in major events such as the inaugural Steam live event featuring Turkish studios, and the dedicated presence of a Turkish pavilion at the Gamescom Expo. This increased international exposure is supported by a rise in indie game studios, which encourages creativity and uniqueness in game creation.
The gaming scene in Turkey has gone through some big changes, both in terms of quantity and quality. At first, mobile gaming was the top player, especially with hyper-casual games being really popular. But now, new data shows a significant shift:
- Shift in Development Focus:
Four years ago at a Bilişim Vadisi event, the majority of the 600 attendees were into mobile game development, with almost 80% specifically working on hyper-casual games. However, by 2023, only a small fraction of the 375 participants were focusing on hyper-casual games and it seemed like there was a shift towards PC and console game development.
2. Investment Landscape:
Investor confidence is evident in the rise of high-value investments and acquisitions. There has been a notable increase in gaming-only investment funds, such as Ludus Ventures, WePlay, APY, and Boğaziçi Ventures. These funds are specialized in supporting and investing in gaming startups, indicating a growing interest and faith in the Turkish gaming industry.
3. Educational Programs:
12 colleges have programs for students interested in digital game design at the undergraduate level, while 8 offer graduate programs focused on game technology and design. This educational focus has helped develop talent within the industry.
4. Government Support:
Turkey has seen a surge in game-specific incubators, accelerators, clusters, and investment funds post-2020. The Ministry of Industry and Technology, KOSGEB, and TÜBİTAK are among the government bodies offering support through grants and initiatives tailored to the gaming industry. This support has played a crucial role in the growth and expansion of the Turkish gaming industry.
5. International Recognition:
The first Steam live event, “Land of the Crescent,” featured more than 70 games from Turkish studios and drew attention from around the world. Additionally, having a dedicated Turkish pavilion at the Gamescom Expo highlights their growing global recognition.
6. Indie Game Development:
Indie game studios are getting more popular, with initiatives like Indieway providing chances for networking and showing off games from different teams. Events such as Gaming Istanbul and Mobidictum also play a big role in supporting indie developers and keeping the sector lively.
7. Incubation Centers:
Incubation centers like BUG Lab TEKMER, GamesUP, DigiAge, and OGEM play a crucial role in fostering the industry’s growth by offering vital support such as workspaces and mentorship.
These numeric insights complement the qualitative narrative, painting a comprehensive picture of the Turkish gaming ecosystem’s rapid development and success.
In essence, the Turkish gaming industry’s strategic evolution, coupled with robust support from various stakeholders, has positioned it as a formidable player on the global stage, ready to continue its upward trajectory.
