Hear from Caglar Eger, CEO and expert on the gaming industry, on why the Turkish games sector is booming and will continue to grow.
We’re excited to kick off a new blog series with Caglar Eger, the CEO of exmox. In this series, Caglar will share his thoughts and knowledge on the gaming and ad tech industries. Expect some great insights, industry news, and observations from someone who’s been there and done that.
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Caglar Eger, born in Hamburg but deeply connected to his Turkish roots, has carved a remarkable path in the gaming industry, boasting over a decade of experience. Now, as the CEO of exmox, he’s leveraging his extensive industry know-how and merging it with the innovative power of rewarded ad formats.
In the first part of our series, he shares his insights into Turkey’s thriving gaming market and explores how this vibrant hotspot for gaming studios has developed.
What factors are contributing to the Turkish gaming industry’s growth?
I think that this growth has been building for a long time, really since I joined the industry in 2012. The boom is a result of a large and highly motivated and engaged young population, investments from international businesses, and on top of that, support from the government to enable industry growth.
How does the government support Turkey’s gaming market?
The Turkish government has implemented several policies to support and nurture the gaming sector:
– Reinvestment through tax policies: The lack of capital gains tax and certain exemptions from income tax for designers and developers allows more money to be reinvested in the games sector.
– Subsidizing salaries: As announced by Tugbek Olek, the Head of Advisory Board of the Digital Game Developers Association, the government covers up to 50% and €50k of the salaries of two development staff members.
– Reimbursement of app store commissions: Studios are also reimbursed by up to 50% of the iOS Store and Google Play’s 30% commission fees, with a cap of €100k.
What role does the population of Turkey play in the games industry growth?
Turkey’s young and game-focused population is a major driver of the industry’s expansion. Not only do they have talented employees, but they also have a large population of gamers. A 2022 study found that 81% of adults in Turkey play mobile games.
Combined with 44% of the population being under the age of 30, a large and highly engaged community is created. Many of these adults have attended Turkish universities and studied abroad, returning with an international and entrepreneurial mindset. This leads to innovative ideas and the creation of successful games.
How are international investors influencing Turkey’s gaming market?
In recent years, international investors have become increasingly open to the idea of spending money in Turkey’s gaming market. I believe there’s two main factors contributing to this shift:
– Government support: As previously mentioned, the Turkish government is highly supportive of this industry. Seeing this backing, external investors became more willing to take a chance and invest in Turkey’s gaming sector.
– Enhanced game development: At this point the cycle is repeating itself – international investors saw large returns and great games, continued to invest more, and now the industry is booming. With more finances, the quality and quantity of games being developed are improving significantly.
Can you highlight some of the notable games and studios from Turkey?
Turkey has become a hotspot for gaming studios, turning out some amazing games in recent years. Big names like Dream Games, Peak Games, and Spyke Games lead the way. There are also lots of hyper-casual studios, such as Rollic Games and Panteon, plus some exciting newcomers like Paxie and Apps.
What are some up-and-coming studies in Turkey?
They’re not necessarily newcomers, but I am very excited to see Fugo Games, Vertigo Games, Fomo Games, GAMEGOS, and Zuuks Games grow even more.
What do you think is the future for Turkey’s gaming industry?
I strongly believe it will only go up from here. I think the future looks very promising, and I believe we can expect sustainable growth and more powerhouse studios. With the growing talent pool and increasing investment in the gaming industry, Turkey is poised to become a major player on the global stage. The innovation and creativity coming from these studios suggests that we’ll see even more groundbreaking games and successful companies emerging from the region. The momentum is building, and the best is yet to come.