Thanks to the new generation support packages implemented within the scope of economic development plans, Türkiye is taking giant steps towards becoming a global investment base in the gaming and software industry. Stating that the incentives for service exports are a turning point for the sector, Gaming Istanbul Board Member Cüneyt Devrim emphasized that these supports transform the country from just a production area into a strategic corporatization center.
The gaming industry, which is one of the areas with the highest added value in the digitalizing world economy, has now become one of the strongest components of Turkey’s export vision. A Huge Domestic Market Potential with 50 Million Players Cüneyt Devrim Turkey’s technology-oriented economic vision has elevated the software and gaming industries from being just growing areas to the class of strategic industries. The biggest basis of this strategic transformation is Turkey’s demographic power.
Home to approximately 50 million players, the domestic market both offers a huge testing ground for domestic developers and whets the appetite of international investors. The young population’s predisposition to technology and high mobile usage rates increase the speed at which projects originating from Turkey turn into global success stories. This dynamism, combined with policies centered on digital production, enables Turkey to climb to the top of the global technology league.
Incentives Reshape the Economic Model Incentives announced for service exports radically change the financial structures of game studios and software startups. Expanding tax advantages allows domestic studios in particular to manage their revenues from global markets more efficiently. This new structure, which increases the scaling speed of early stage enterprises (start-ups), makes Turkey one of the most attractive points in the world to establish and grow a company.
According to Cüneyt Devrim, this process enables Turkey to gain the identity of “the center of gaming companies” by destroying its image as a country where only “games are developed”. Strategic Bridge in Global Talent Competition: Istanbul Global competition in the game and software industry is no longer only cost-oriented, but is shaped by multi-dimensional criteria such as quality of life and ecosystem access. Türkiye; Thanks to its strategic location between Europe, Eurasia and MENA regions, it has the potential to become a center of attraction for both local and international talents.
The time zone advantage and developed entrepreneurship ecosystem make Istanbul an indispensable stop for professionals who want to do business on a global scale. Gaming Istanbul 2026: Meeting Point of Investments The most concrete reflection of this huge transformation on the field will be the Gaming Istanbul (GIST) event, which will take place at the Istanbul Congress Center on 18-20 September 2026. This event, which will bring together all stakeholders of the industry, is positioned not only as a game fair but also as the center of B2B (business-to-business) collaborations.
Thanks to investor meetings, publisher meetings and developer matching sessions, Turkey’s production power in the gaming industry will turn into concrete international investments. Istanbul is preparing to become the heartbeat of the global gaming ecosystem in 2026.
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