We're thrilled to announce the return of GamesBeat Next, hosted in San Francisco this October, where we will explore the theme of "Playing the Edge." Apply to speak here and learn more about sponsorship opportunities here. At the event, we will also announce 25 top game startups as the 2024 Game Changers. Apply or nominate today!
Magic Games is looking to make the next massively addictive casual game. The Turkish studio sees real potential in community-driven multiplayer puzzle games. The funding round passed the $5 million mark, in pursuit of the goal. Makers Fund led the funding round, with Hummingbird Ventures’ Firat Ileri participating.
Magic Games’ founding members include former members of Peak Games. These individuals, Çağrı Öztürk, Rüya Çelikcan and Mert Kasar bring a wealth of casual gaming experience. Their previous work includes games like Toy Blast, Toon Blast and Star Blast. Zynga acquired Peak Games for $1.8 billion in 2020, and that set in motion a lot of Turkey’s game startup community. The strength of that community has made Turkey a regular stopping point for game venture capitalists and other investors.
“Our company builds around the belief that social interactions are the key to deepening and enriching our shared gameplay experience,” said Çağrı Öztürk, CEO of Magic Games, in a statement. “We believe that in-game communities can transform the way that our users play with and against each other – creating friendly camaraderie out of competition. Social features are integral to our development cycle as we work to build multiplayer games that anyone can enjoy.”
The studio plans to use the funds to grow the Magic Games team. It’s looking to hire artists and developers in Istanbul. Magic Games is also looking for talent elsewhere and has plans to open a second office in Europe.
Event
GamesBeat Next 2023
Join the GamesBeat community in San Francisco this October 24-25. You’ll hear from the brightest minds within the gaming industry on latest developments and their take on the future of gaming.
“We were immediately drawn to Magic Games’ ambition of creating puzzle games that blend community features with multiplayer elements.” said Curtis Urbanowicz, Makers Fund lead on the deal, in a statement. “Çağrı and his team have built world class games in this genre before, and we think the casual games market is going to love the fresh perspective that they’re bringing to this next chapter.”
Magic Games is working on its as of yet untitled first game. It’s going to be a social game. Artists and developers who join the studio will probably find themselves working on the studio’s debut game.
GamesBeat's creed when covering the game industry is "where passion meets business." What does this mean? We want to tell you how the news matters to you -- not just as a decision-maker at a game studio, but also as a fan of games. Whether you read our articles, listen to our podcasts, or watch our videos, GamesBeat will help you learn about the industry and enjoy engaging with it. Discover our Briefings.
