Observed Signal · Sep 3, 2026 · Funding · Source: PocketGamer.biz · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Positive
Bold Games CEO Outlines Strategy to Stand Out in Turkish Market
Bold Games, a Turkish mobile games studio founded by former Dream Games, Rollic, and Bigger Games employees, aims to differentiate itself through product innovation in casual puzzle games. CEO Ulaş Mergen emphasizes small teams, rapid prototyping, and a focus on mechanics and level design rather than just art execution. The studio recently secured a $6 million seed investment from Arcadia Gaming Partners, Makers Fund, and e2vc to build its team, not to scale its first title, Market Match. Bold Games plans to keep its team small (12-14 people) and aims to produce multiple casual puzzle titles over the next five years. Mergen also discusses the impact of AI on accelerating game development timelines.
Funding for a new mobile games studio is moderately relevant to the adtech/martech industry due to its potential future advertising demand, but it is not industry-shifting.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Bold Games secured a $6 million seed investment led by Arcadia Gaming Partners, Makers Fund, and e2vc.
- The studio was founded in 2025 by Ulaş Mergen, Baris Incesu, Atakan Tuglu, and Candas Demirel.
- Bold Games' first title is Market Match, a combination of Goods Sorting and Match Factory mechanics.
- The company aims to keep its team size between 12 and 14 people.
- Bold Games aims to have a game prototype within one week and fully implement it within seven weeks.
Connected Companies & Entities
1 Entity mapped“Investment led by Arcadia Gaming Partners, Makers Fund and e2vc....”
Ontology Mapping & Concepts
Related Market Signals & Shifts
Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
Turkish studio Bold Games raises $6M
Istanbul-based Bold Games has secured $6 million in investment to grow its team and scale its debut mobile puzzle game, Market Match. The studio was founded by Ulas Mergen, Atakan Tuglu, Candas Demirel and Baris Incesu, who previously worked at Bigger Games, Agave Games, Dream Games, ZeptoLab and Rollic. The funding round was led by Arcadia Gaming Partners, Makers Fund and e2vc, with participation from JIMCO and several angel investors. Bold Games says it aims to combine strong execution with creative product thinking to build long‑lasting mobile game franchises. The article was published on 2026-07-08.
Surge Games raises $3M pre-seed for AI-native mobile games
Istanbul-based Surge Games raised $3 million in a pre-seed round to scale an AI-native approach to mobile game development. Founded in 2026 by Muhammed Atlam, Onur Uras, Rabia Konuk Uras and Yiğit Yücel Neğiş, the studio applies artificial intelligence across game development, art and user acquisition. The funding round was led by Play Ventures, with participation from Simya VC and Drilo Ventures. Surge Games plans to use the capital to grow its team, scale user acquisition, and apply its production model to additional titles; it has already released its first matching puzzle game, Twin Tiles!, on iOS and Android.
Top 30 Türkiye Game Makers of 2026 Ranked
PocketGamer publishes a Top 30 list highlighting Türkiye’s most notable game studios in 2026, showcasing a fast-growing games hub driven by strong talent, domestic investment and notable exits. The article explains the country’s revenue growth (per trade body TOGED), profiles studios from Dream Games and Peak to emerging startups like Bold Games and Cypher Games, and documents recent funding rounds, acquisitions (e.g., Scopely’s majority stake in Loom Games) and strategic investments that underline Türkiye’s significance in mobile, hybridcasual and PC game markets.
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