turkey’s ace games raises $7m to develop casual and ‘hyper casual’ games
Ace Games Secures $7 Million Seed Funding
Ace Games, a mobile gaming firm originating from Turkey and established by a previous co-founder of Peak Games, has successfully completed a $7 million seed funding round. The investment was spearheaded by Actera Group.
Additional investment was provided by NFX, based in San Francisco. Participation in this round also included Kristian Segerstrale, Alexis Bonte, and Kaan Gunay – all experienced entrepreneurs within the gaming industry.
Strategic Investment and Studio Focus
Firat Ileri, who contributed to a prior pre-seed funding stage, also took part in this latest round. Ace Games currently operates with two distinct development studios.
One studio concentrates on the creation of casual games, while the other is dedicated to the development of “hyper-casual” games.
Leadership and Initial Success
The company was co-founded by Hakan Bas, who previously served as co-founder and COO at Peak Games. Ace Games has already demonstrated early success.
Their hyper-casual game, “Mix and Drink,” has achieved notable traction on the U.S. iOS App Store.
Future Game Releases and Studio Synergy
According to a statement released by CEO Hakan Bas, the primary emphasis for Ace Games lies in a casual “hybrid puzzle” game currently under development.
The hyper-casual studio plays a vital supporting role, contributing to talent development, innovative game mechanic design, marketing strategies, revenue generation, and user acquisition.
The anticipated release of Ace’s casual game is slated for late summer, with a full global launch projected for early 2022.
Turkey's Growing Gaming Ecosystem
The acquisitions of Peak Games, Gram Games, and Rollic Games by Zynga highlight Turkey’s increasing capacity to foster successful exits for gaming startups.
Several venture capital firms, including Index, Balderton, Makers, and Griffin, have completed merger and acquisition (M&A) deals with prominent Turkish game developers such as Dream Games, Bigger Games, and Spyke Games.
These investments demonstrate the growing confidence in the Turkish gaming market.
Mike Butcher
Mike Butcher: A Profile of a Leading Tech Voice
Mike Butcher, M.B.E., is a highly respected figure in the technology landscape. Previously serving as Editor-at-large for TechCrunch, his journalistic background includes contributions to prominent UK newspapers and magazines.
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Wired UK has recognized Butcher as one of the most influential individuals shaping European technology. This acknowledgement underscores his significant impact on the sector.
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Butcher is a sought-after speaker, having presented at prestigious events such as the World Economic Forum, Web Summit, and DLD. He has conducted interviews with a diverse range of prominent figures.
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GQ magazine once listed him among the 100 Most Connected Men in the UK, highlighting his extensive network. He is also actively involved in several impactful initiatives.
- TheEuropas.com: Co-founder of this platform, which ranks the top 100 European startups.
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In 2016, Mike Butcher was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list. This honor recognized his dedicated service to both the UK technology industry and the field of journalism.