Turkey's video game exports leap 50 pct in 2018

By Tuba Sahin

ANKARA (AA) - Foreign sales by Turkey's video gaming industry soared by 50 percent on a yearly basis in 2018, Turkey's trade minister announced Friday.

The sector reaped $1.05 billion through exports last year, Ruhsar Pekcan said at an event in Istanbul.

The figure was $700 million a year earlier, and $500 million in 2016, Pekcan said.

The size of the global digital gaming market, which was around $138 billion in 2018, is expected to reach $180 billion by 2021, Pekcan said.

"The astonishing figures show the great potential in the sector," she said.

Pekcan said Turkey has acted quickly in adapting to digitalization and boosting its gaming sector.

"The size of the gaming market in Turkey reached $750 million and the rapid growth of the sector contributes greatly to the formation and development of the ecosystem in this field," Pekcan said.

Pekcan added that her ministry will continue supporting Turkish video game developers.