Over the past 20 years, Türkiye has painstakingly developed a flourishing gaming ecosystem, starting from small beginnings with Java-based Okey games and rising to significance on the global financial markets.
With Istanbul now ranking as the second-largest gaming hub by studio density after London, the nation’s journey is a testament to its dynamic entrepreneurial society, strategic investments, and the catalytic success of pioneering companies like Peak Games, Dream Games, and Spyke Games.
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Early days of Türkiye’s gaming industry (2000-2017)
The roots of Türkiye’s gaming industry can be traced back to the early 2000s, with platforms such as Superonline and Mynet providing the initial digital playgrounds.
This era saw pioneering businesses moving into mobile game creation for Symbian and Java devices, frequently focusing on localizing international titles to appeal to the Turkish audience.
Sobee, a PC game developer, emerged as an early success story, eventually being acquired and establishing itself as a key player in this developing industry.
The introduction of Sanalika, an early multiplayer online game that captivated a generation of Turkish gamers and highlighted the enormous potential for local game creation, was a key turning point. The founder of Sanalika later established Gram Games, which would go on to make one of the biggest gaming exits in Türkiye.
Peak Games entered the market in 2010 by taking advantage of Facebook games’ growing popularity. Their proficiency in expanding and disseminating these games created a vital foundation for further achievements.
A Halloween-themed event scene from Sanalika, one of Türkiye’s earliest multiplayer online games. (Photo via X/@Sanalika)
Boom of Türkiye’s gaming industry (2017-Present)
The Turkish gaming ecosystem truly ignited between 2017 and 2020 with a series of high-profile acquisitions that drew international attention. Peak Games’ acquisition of their card and board games in 2017 by Zynga, followed by Gram Games in 2018 and Masomo in 2019, injected unprecedented momentum into the industry.
The peak of this era was reached in 2020 when Zynga acquired Peak Games for an astounding $1.8 billion and an 80% interest in Rollic for $180 million.
These historic agreements not only confirmed Türkiye’s enormous skill and promise, but they also had a significant ripple effect in the industry.
After the acquisition, 108 former Peak employees went on to establish 82 new startups, with 37 specifically dedicated to gaming.
This entrepreneurial explosion saw one of these new ventures achieve unicorn status within an astonishing 23 months, while another secured Türkiye’s largest gaming investment in 2024.
Similarly, 26 former Gram Games employees launched 21 new startups, 18 of which were focused on gaming, further cementing the industry’s self-sustaining growth.
Logos of Zynga and Peak Games displayed on smartphones. (AA Photo)
Istanbul at the forefront of Türkiye’s gaming industry
Today, Istanbul stands as a beacon of gaming innovation, hosting 498 of Türkiye’s 814 active game studios, making it a pivotal hub in the global gaming landscape.
Despite global capital shortages and fluctuating investment trends in 2022 and 2023, game investments in Türkiye demonstrated remarkable resilience, remaining higher than pre-pandemic levels.
The recent major funding rounds for Spyke Games and Cypher Games in 2024 have already doubled the total investment volume from the previous year, signaling renewed investor confidence.
Leading the charge in secured funding, Türkiye’s most notable gaming startups include:
● Dream Games: $105 Million
● Spyke Games: $105 Million
● Peak Games: $34 Million (pre-acquisition)
● ACE Games: $32 Million
● Libra Games: $30 Million
Turkish gaming entrepreneurs set themselves apart by paying close attention to unit economics and carefully examining Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) and Lifetime Value (LTV) in order to secure long-term growth and draw in additional funding.
Türkiye’s journey from a developing gaming market to a vital global contributor is a compelling narrative of ambition, talent, and strategic development.
As the ecosystem continues to mature, it promises even greater innovation and success stories on the international stage.
