Gaming Industry in Türkiye Through the Lens of Education

The gaming industry in Türkiye has seen significant growth, fueled by a young population and notable global successes in mobile gaming, with companies such as Peak and Dream Games becoming unicorns. Game development in Türkiye, however, faces challenges, especially in education, which is still in its nascent stage. Despite the increasing number of academic programs, particularly in game design and development, many institutions fall short of industry expectations due to a lack of resources and qualified staff. The rise and fall of hyper-casual games, alongside a growing demand for more complex PC and console games, highlight the need for a well-trained workforce. Initiatives like Bahçeşehir University's BUG Lab offer promising models, integrating education, production, and incubation in game development while collaborating with the gaming communities. To move forward, stronger collaboration between universities and the gaming industry is essential. With sustained effort, the Turkish gaming sector holds the potential for further success, but it requires strategic, collective action to navigate current challenges.