IDDA has started a partnership with Xsolla, a leading company in the gaming industry.
On December 17, 2024, the Innovation and Digital Development Agency (IDDA) signed a partnership agreement with Xsolla, a global commercial platform for game creators.
This partnership creates opportunities for training, technology, financial resources, and access to the global market for Azerbaijan's game studios. Xsolla, which covers 72% of all payment transactions in the global gaming industry, has also announced its investment in Azerbaijan's gaming sector.
IRİA's Chairman, Inara Valiyeva, highlighted the increasing dynamics of the gaming industry development in Azerbaijan in recent years: "We can confidently say that the gaming industry in the country is on the rise. Our goal is to boost this development by bringing global players to Azerbaijan. Collaboration with Xsolla will accelerate the application of innovations, contribute to human capital development, and, at the same time, an infrastructure project for establishing a training academy will be realized."
Yevgeniya Bikmurzina, Head of IRİA's Innovation Ecosystem Department, emphasized the importance of the partnership in the context of developing the local gaming industry: "This collaboration will create broad opportunities for a number of joint projects, providing local game studios with access to education, technology, and financial resources to gain recognition in the global market."
The collaboration with Xsolla was previously announced at a press conference during the "Gamesummit Winter Edition 2024." Additionally, it was shared that the "Xsolla StarNest Academy" will be established in Azerbaijan to provide training for game developers. This academy will be created within the framework of a partnership between Xsolla and the Azerbaijani company StarNest, with IRİA supporting its strategic development. Moreover, an incubation program for local game studios is planned to launch in 2025.
Selected game studios will receive support from international experts, present their games to a wide audience, and gain financial support for business development. IRİA has also signed an agreement with the "Gamesummit" organization, and as part of this collaboration, 10 events will be held to raise public awareness about game technologies and attract youth to the innovation sector.
