Grand Games, an Istanbul-based mobile gaming company specializing in social games, has secured $3 million in pre-seed funding. This funding round, led by Peak Games investor Earlybird Digital East Fund (which also backed Proofs and FintechOS), saw participation from Laton Ventures. Just four months after its inception, Grand Games has also soft-launched its first game, marking a significant milestone for the startup.
Strategic Investment to Fuel Growth
The newly acquired funds will be used to expand the Grand Games team and launch its initial titles. The company is actively seeking passionate individuals across all functions, including product development, marketing, art, and game development, to join their mission of transforming the gaming landscape.
Oguzhan Ozer from Earlybird Digital East Fund commented, “It’s been a great pleasure to closely witness the stellar development of Turkey’s gaming ecosystem for more than a decade, especially after Peak’s exit. We are selective investors and knowing the market challenges from an insider view, we approached it cautiously. What set Grand Games apart was the team quality and their vision. We are excited to support them on their journey.”
Görkem Türk from Laton Ventures added, “As Laton Ventures, we have full confidence that Grand Games, with a visionary founding team that has developed successful games globally, will write new success stories. We are thrilled to be part of this unique journey.”
Turkey’s Thriving Gaming Market
Turkey has emerged as a global hub for mobile gaming, boasting a robust ecosystem with notable exits and success stories such as Dream Games and Peak Games, Turkey’s first unicorn, acquired by Zynga for $1.8 billion in June 2020.
Grand Games’ Innovative Approach
Grand Games is spearheaded by founders Mustafa Fırtına, Mehmet Çalım, and Bekir Batuhan Çelebi, who have previously held key roles in developing successful games like Zen Match and Wonder Blast at companies such as Good Job Games and Moon Active. The company leverages AI to streamline game development, automating up to 30% of each game’s codebase and utilizing platforms like Midjourney to generate art concepts. This approach significantly reduces the time required to create and publish games, allowing Grand Games to build, test, and iterate faster than its competitors.
By shortening the feedback loop from players, Grand Games aims to become the fastest-learning and iterating company in the industry. Additionally, the company incorporates elements of luck and social competition into its games, fostering deeper emotional connections and enhancing the overall player experience.
Upcoming Titles
Grand Games’ first title, Magic Sort!, is currently in soft launch in the US and available for download on both iOS and Android. The second game, Car Match, is set to soft launch this month. Looking ahead, the company plans to focus on its flagship title, centered around social interaction, expected to debut in early 2025.
Co-Founder and CEO Bekir Batuhan Çelebi stated, “We saw how fragmented mobile game development had become and seized the opportunity to build a radically different company. 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, enabling us to build and iterate games faster. Swift execution combined with innovation will set us apart from other companies.”
Future Prospects
Grand Games, with its innovative use of AI in mobile game development, shows strong potential following its $3M pre-seed funding. The team's experience and rapid development approach, combined with deep social engagement features, position Grand Games well within Turkey’s vibrant gaming ecosystem. As the company expands its team and launches new titles, it is poised to become a significant player in the global gaming market.
