Istanbul ranks second worldwide in game development

Istanbul has ranked second globally in digital game development, strengthening its position as one of the leading hubs in this field.

The city came in second after London in terms of the number of game development studios.

Turkey’s Minister of Industry and Technology, Fatih Kacır, said that Istanbul is home to around 876 companies specializing in game development within its tech hubs.

These companies provide more than 14,000 jobs, showing how fast this important sector is growing.

Kacır explained that Turkey’s gaming industry is built on a strong ecosystem that includes investment funds, startup accelerators, and incubators. This has made the country attractive to international investors and entrepreneurs looking for promising growth opportunities.

He also pointed out that game development activities are supported by five design centers and 13 R&D centers. Over the past five years, the sector’s exports have exceeded $1.03 billion, highlighting its global competitiveness.

The minister confirmed that the Turkish government offers strong support to companies in this field. This includes covering part of employees’ social security and income tax costs, as well as supporting salaries for researchers and developers for up to two years.

Companies also benefit from tax and customs exemptions on equipment and technologies, which helps reduce costs and boost competitiveness.