Observed Signal · Sep 24, 2026 · Funding · Source: PocketGamer.biz · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Positive
Circle Games Raises $25M Series A Led by Tencent
Istanbul-based mobile game studio Circle Games has raised $25 million in a Series A funding round led by Tencent, bringing its total investment to $32.25 million. Existing investors e2vc, BITKRAFT Ventures, APY Ventures, and a16z Speedrun also participated. The company plans to use the funds to expand its recently released puzzle game Jelly Escape into additional markets, continue growing Sort Express worldwide, at least double its employee count, and develop new mobile games. Circle Games previously raised $7.25 million in a seed round completed in July 2025. CEO Göktürk Balıkcı emphasized the studio's focus on quality and data-driven development in the puzzle genre.
Funding round for a mobile game studio; relevant to gaming/advertising due to potential ad monetization, but not a major industry shift.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Circle Games raised $25 million in a Series A round led by Tencent.
- Total investment in Circle Games now stands at $32.25 million.
- Existing investors e2vc, BITKRAFT Ventures, APY Ventures, and a16z Speedrun participated.
- Circle Games plans to expand Jelly Escape into additional markets and grow Sort Express worldwide.
- The studio aims to at least double its employee count and develop more mobile games.
Connected Companies & Entities
1 Entity mapped“Tencent led the Series A round for Circle Games....”
Ontology Mapping & Concepts
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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.
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.
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