Game Industry in Turkey: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
The gaming industry stands out as a rapidly growing and developing industry around the world. Turkey, on the other hand, has started to shape the entrepreneurship ecosystem by taking serious steps in the field of game development in recent years. Still, the industry has difficulties both in Turkey and globally. According to StartupsWatch's data, Hypercasual concept game startups, which were established with an increasing momentum since 2018, started to decline after peaking in 2021, and as of the first quarter of 2023, they achieved the lowest rate of establishments in the last 5 years. So what was the reason for this change in the gaming industry?
Yesterday: First Steps, Growth, and Recognition
The adventure of the gaming industry in Turkey began years ago. In the early stages, developers often had to work with limited resources and struggled to gain international attention. Lack of funding and infrastructure challenges were among the factors limiting the growth of the industry. However, during this period, talented developers and small studios got creative and released their first games. Thanks to these developers and strategies, Turkey's game industry gained significant momentum. Game development studios began to attract the attention of national and international investors. Developers gained experience and produced quality games by participating in global game projects. Thanks to incubation centers, accelerator programs and entrepreneurship activities, the growth potential of the sector has increased even more. In addition, international game fairs and events have helped Turkish developers increase their recognition in the international arena.
Today: Rapid Ascension and Challenges
Entrepreneurship ecosystems often move like a rough sea. Turkey's entrepreneurship ecosystem is witnessing changes in game development, which is one of the sectors experiencing this cycle. In recent years, especially the decline in popularity of Hypercasual concept games is remarkable. The decline of Hypercasual concept games in the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Turkey has been shaped by a combination of several factors. First, market saturation plays a large role in this decline. The release of many Hypercasual games with similar mechanics over time has led to distraction from the players. This has led to an increase in competition and a decrease in the originality of the games.
Second, insufficient innovation and creativity is a major factor behind the decline of Hypercasual games. Fast production processes and simple mechanics can sometimes lead to a lack of depth and originality in games. Such repetitive games can become boring as players seek richer experiences.
Third, the lack of quality and depth is another determining factor for the decline. Because hypercasual games are usually produced quickly, they can offer a superficial and limited gaming experience. As the expectations of the players increase, such superficial games can be quickly abandoned.
In addition, monetization problems are also one of the factors behind the decline. Ad-based revenue models can be inconvenient for some players and disrupt the gaming experience.
Finally, changes in platform policies are also a factor influencing the decline of Hypercasual games. New requirements or restrictions of platforms can make it difficult for developers to distribute their games and generate revenue.
When these factors come together, the decline of Hypercasual games in the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Turkey becomes understandable.
Tomorrow: Innovation and Transformation
The future of Turkey's gaming industry looks bright. Developers continue to draw attention with innovative mechanics, deep gaming experiences and games with various income models and different concepts. The entrepreneurial ecosystem is maturing and developers are gaining access to more support and resources. Local and international investors show interest in Turkish game projects. The growing talent pool and advanced infrastructure allow for larger and higher-quality game productions. In order for Turkish game developers to have a greater say in the international arena, it is possible to raise projects focusing on innovation and new technologies and to reshape the future of the industry.
As a result, if the entrepreneurial ecosystem of the gaming industry in Turkey overcomes today's challenges after gaining growth and recognition yesterday, it can move towards an even brighter future with innovation and international collaborations tomorrow.
