TURKISH GAMING INDUSTRY: ON THE BRINK OF GLOBAL SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES

Türkiye’s young and dynamic gaming ecosystem continues to write strong success stories on the global stage, overcoming challenges and finding new ways for sustainable growth

The software and gaming industry in Türkiye continues to write remarkable success stories in the international arena with the power of creative and cultural industries while pioneering the development of the digital economy. We have witnessed Türkiye writing a growth story that attracts global attention and we are proud of this process since 2015, when we entered the sector with initiatives such as Recontact Games, Women in Games TR, and KıraARThane, which we believe will shape the future of the gaming industry.

Türkiye’s gaming ecosystem has grown rapidly in the global gaming industry with its young and dynamic population, 44 million gamers, and high penetration of mobile devices. This development has made our country the second largest center in Europe in the global gaming ecosystem, which creates a value of $187 billion. In particular, the sale of Peak Games to Zynga in 2020 for 1.8 billion dollars was one of the most important symbols of this growth. Similarly, the sale of Rollic Games, which not only develops games but also publishes them, for $180 million, reinforced the international success of the ecosystem. Dream Games and Spyke Games, founded by professionals who left Peak Games, reached the unicorn level in a short time and wrote new success stories.

However, the sector faces challenges as well as opportunities. The last 2.5 years have been quite challenging for the gaming industry both in Türkiye and around the world. While 34 thousand people were laid off globally, only 844 out of 1055 gaming startups in Türkiye remained active. 59 new gaming startups established in 2023, down from 38 in 2024. Increased competition and rising costs led many startups to shut down before finding a second round of funding.

Türkiye has a strong infrastructure for game entrepreneurs and investors. There are 12 incubation centers, 21 accelerator programs and 2 game clusters in Türkiye. While game design departments opened in more than 20 universities to expand the talent pool, the quality of education remains limited due to the lack of academics. In addition, the lack of female entrepreneurs and talents from different disciplines negatively affects the sustainability of the sector.

The gaming industry can gain a new dynamism when it is considered not only as a means of entertainment, but also as an awareness-raising tool and a cultural movement that can offer solutions to global problems. While investments in the gaming industry peaked at $520 million in 2021, this figure dropped to $90.5 million in 2024. The number of deals also dropped from 54 to 22. However, four exits worth $50.5 million in 2024 show that the sector is still vibrant.

Our industry, which has proven itself in the field of mobile games, is now trying to achieve the desired rise by turning to different platforms and genres. Türkiye stands out as an ecosystem with great potential with 10 thousand employees. However, the decrease in the number of startups and the decline in investment levels indicate that the sector needs to achieve a more resilient structure. It is of great importance that the young software developers of the future specialize in cross-disciplines using the new tools offered by AI and use these competencies to build the cultural heritage of the future.

In this way, I believe that inspiring and original projects will be realized on behalf of our country. The success stories of the past show that the future is also promising. Türkiye must continue to support innovative ideas and creative talents to maintain its leadership in the gaming industry and gain a stronger position on the global stage.