Turkey’s Video Game Industry (PC) Grows by 133% in the First Half of 2024

According to the 2024 Turkish Video Game Industry Report, 44 new games were released in the first half of 2024 on Steam, with an additional 40 titles expected to launch in the second half of the year. Of these, 26 games are anticipated to be released shortly. The figures reveal a significant surge in game releases, with a 133% increase compared to 2023 when only 36 games were launched.

The report, jointly prepared by 0 Ping and Games From Turkey, provides in-depth insights and key data on Turkey’s video game sector. It highlights a noticeable resurgence in the industry over the past two years, with this momentum reflecting increased productivity among entrepreneurs. Following a slowdown in the mobile gaming sector, particularly in the Hyper-Casual wave, many developers have shifted their focus to PC and indie game development.

During the January-June 2024 period, 44 games were released, and the market is expected to see the launch of 40 more games by the end of the year. Additionally, 26 games are tagged as “coming soon” and “TBA.” This surge in video game production marks a substantial leap from the 36 games released in 2023, representing a 133% increase.

Rising Interest in Simulation and Horror Games

The genre distribution among Turkish PC game developers also reflects a significant shift driven by the transition from mobile gaming. Of the 84 games analyzed, 15 are simulation games, indicating a trend where teams previously focused on more “Casual” games are now venturing into this genre. Another popular genre on Steam, “Bullet Hell,” driven by the success of Vampire Survivors over the past three years, ranks as the second most popular category among Turkish developers. Due to their ease of development and high average playtime, developers are increasingly concentrating on this genre. Additionally, horror games, a long-time favorite among Turkish developers, continue to maintain their popularity.

Small Teams Leading Game Production

Turkey’s video game industry is characterized by small to medium-sized studios, with many developers working in more compact teams. Small teams, consisting predominantly of 2-4 members, make up 32% of the game development studios. Larger teams, (20 or more members), represent the more ambitious projects with higher quality and complexity, often attracting significant investment. A notable trend in the Turkish gaming industry is that over 73% of developers choose to self-publish their games. This decision suggests that many developers are entering the market primarily to gain experience rather than focus on profitability. Additionally, many mobile developers are expanding their portfolios with new projects on the PC side while maintaining their existing mobile platforms. Thus, some of the game developers are now part of the portfolios of globally recognized publishers like Daedalic, Camlann, and PlayWay.

Lack of Experience and Guidance

The report also points out that the Turkish gaming industry faces significant challenges due to the limited presence of large-scale international PC video game publishers in Turkey’s eco-system, leading to a lack of experience and guidance. Besides Steam, some of the devs also started showing interest in releasing their games on other platforms like Epic.Despite these challenges, the number of globally successful games is rapidly increasing, with a growing number of games surpassing the 10,000-unit sales mark, which is satisfying enough for small teams or solo developers. This trend is encouraging developers and investors, indicating that, with the right approach, games can achieve economic sustainability.

The report also highlights the increasing diversity of game genres and the eagerness of young developers to experiment with different trends. The emergence of games targeting global sales, rather than just focusing on the local market, the rising interest in PC/console game development on social media, and the growing number of B2C and B2B gaming events, incubation programs, and hackathons are all indicators of the industry’s growth.

Key Highlights from the 2024 Turkey Video Game Industry Report:

• Game Release Status: There is an equal split between Early Access and full releases, with 50% of games in each category:
• Early Access: 22
• Full Releases: 22
• Review Counts: The number of reviews per game is another critical metric:
• Fewer than 50 reviews: 23 games
• 50-250 reviews: 9 games
• 250-1000 reviews: 8 games
• 1000-5000 reviews: 2 games
• 5000+ reviews: 2 games

Excluding games with more than 1,000 reviews, the average number of reviews per game released in 2024 by Turkish developers is approximately 173. This figure suggests that the average review count necessary to establish a solid reputation in the gaming sector remains somewhat low. When popular Turkish games like Dice & Fold and New Cycle are included, the average rises to 307. The addition of top-selling titles such as Anomaly Agent and Supermarket Simulator pushes this average up to 521.

Pricing Strategies Reflect Strategic Market Positioning

The pricing of Turkish games varies across regions, reflecting strategic market positioning:

• Average pricing in the U.S.: $9.21
• Average pricing in the MENA region: $4.39

Steam’s recommended lower pricing for the MENA region aims to make games more accessible to a broader audience by considering the region’s economic conditions. By embracing this lower pricing strategy, Turkish developers can more effectively enter the regional market, boosting their user base, sales, and wishlist numbers while also taking advantage of Steam’s promotional tools, like appearing on the “Trending” games list.

The pricing strategy within the Turkish gaming industry also reveals much about its focus. Specifically, the fact that games from Turkey are priced below the $25 mark indicates that these titles predominantly fall within the “Indie” category. The next tier, 2A games, typically start at $30, with some reaching up to $50.

This detailed report provides a comprehensive overview of Turkey’s burgeoning video game industry, highlighting the rapid growth and dynamic shifts that are positioning Turkish developers on the global stage.