Turkish game industry sees boom, aims for global success

The Turkish gaming industry, which lost momentum after the pandemic, has experienced a resurgence.

According to the 2024 Video Games Industry Report by 0 Ping and Games From Türkiye, the number of domestic games in the first half of the year increased by 133%, reaching 44, surpassing the total of 36 games from the previous year.

An additional 40 games are expected to be released in the latter half of the year, with 26 more currently under development.

In terms of genres, thrillers and horror games are particularly prominent.

Among the 84 games produced, 15 are simulation games, while the “Bullet Hell” category, which includes over 2,000 titles, ranks as one of the most popular genres among Turkish developers, coming in second.

Horror games, a favorite among Turkish developers, continue to maintain their popularity.

The Turkish game industry is characterized by a high concentration of small and medium-sized studios, with many developers working in smaller teams.

Small teams, typically consisting of 2-4 people, make up 32% of game development studios. Larger teams of 20 or more people represent investments in more ambitious projects with complex, high-quality game development potential.

The report highlights the rapid increase in globally successful games from Türkiye, particularly on the Steam platform.

The rise in games exceeding 10,000 sales units is boosting the economic appetite and willingness of developers and investors.

The emergence of games with global sales targets, increasing social media interest in PC/console game development, and the rise in the number of B2C and B2B events are key indicators of the industry’s growth.