Credit: Envato Elements
Grand Games, a new Turkey-based mobile games studio, has successfully raised $3 million in a pre-seed funding round. This round was led by Earlybird Digital East Fund with participation from Laton Ventures. The funding coincides with the soft launch of the studio’s inaugural title, Magic Sort, a captivating puzzle game centered on color matching.
Exciting Beginnings
Founded by industry veterans Mustafa Fırtına, Mehmet Çalım, and Bekir Batuhan Çelebi, all of whom previously contributed to the success of Good Job Games, including the development of Zen Match, Grand Games is poised to make a significant impact on the mobile gaming industry. Since its inception just four months ago, the studio has grown from four to 13 full-time employees, with plans to expand further using this new funding.
The soft launch of Magic Sort marks the beginning of Grand Games’ journey, with their second title, Car Match, set to debut later this month. The studio’s flagship title, emphasizing social interaction, is anticipated for an early 2025 release.
Innovative Approach
A key factor in Grand Games’ rapid development cycle is their strategic use of AI technology. From leveraging Midjourney for concept art to integrating AI at the codebase level, up to 30% of each game’s code has been generated using AI. This innovative approach enables the studio to build and iterate games faster, setting them apart in a crowded market.
“We saw how fragmented mobile game development had become and took the opportunity to build a radically different company,” said Çelebi. “Many mobile games today are poorly executed copies of successful titles. We see an opportunity to build a billion-dollar business by adopting the latest AI technology to innovate and execute swiftly.”
Investor Confidence
Earlybird Digital East Fund’s Oguzhan Ozer expressed enthusiasm for the investment, highlighting Turkey’s growth as a global gaming hub. “We have closely witnessed the stellar development of Turkey’s gaming ecosystem for over a decade, especially after Peak’s exit. We are selective investors, and what set Grand Games apart was the team’s quality and vision. We are excited to support them on their journey.”
Earlybird Digital East Fund has a history of successful investments in the Turkish gaming sector, including Peak Games, which was acquired by Zynga in a $1.8 billion deal. Peak Games’ Toon Blast recently surpassed $2.5 billion in earnings, demonstrating the potential for significant success in this market.
