The first global incubation program for Azerbaijani game studios is being held.
Azerbaijan Launches Its First Global Incubation Program for Game Studios
In a landmark initiative for the country's creative tech sector, the Innovation and Digital Development Agency (IDDA) of Azerbaijan, in partnership with global video game commerce company Xsolla, has officially launched the “Xsolla–IDDA Incubation Program.” This marks the first global incubation program aimed at developing local game studios in Azerbaijan.
The three-month hybrid program is designed to support 10 promising Azerbaijani game studios selected through a competitive process. These participants will benefit from international expertise and mentorship, helping them refine their projects and scale globally. At the end of the program, the top three studios will be awarded cash prizes of 50,000, 75,000, and 100,000 AZN respectively.
The launch event took place at the Azerbaijan Innovation Center and gathered representatives from the game development ecosystem, tech influencers, members of the Public Council under the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, and representatives from Xsolla.
Paraaq Amin, Chief Operating Officer at Xsolla Founding, opened the event by highlighting the fast-paced growth of the gaming sector in Azerbaijan:
“The creativity and global recognition of Azerbaijani developers convinced us to invest in the region. As a result, we’ve chosen Baku to host our regional office for the Caucasus and Central Asia.”
Rashad Khaligov, Deputy Chairman of IDDA, also addressed the audience, emphasizing the creative industry's economic potential:
“Game development is not just entertainment—it’s at the intersection of business and cutting-edge technology. With over 60 game studios now active in Azerbaijan, we see significant momentum and are committed to supporting this ecosystem.”
Xsolla’s Regional Executive Director Fuad Karimov introduced the upcoming Xsolla StarNest Academy, set to open in Azerbaijan. The academy will offer advanced training programs for local developers in mobile, PC, console, and online gaming, with instruction from global industry experts.
The event also included detailed presentations about the incubation program's structure, schedule, and support mechanisms. The 10 selected studios showcased their projects and responded to questions from the audience.
About Xsolla:
With over 20 years of experience in the global video game industry, Xsolla provides a commercial platform for game developers and publishers worldwide. Through its partnership with IDDA, Xsolla is actively contributing to the development of Azerbaijan’s gaming ecosystem via incubation programs, training academies, and collaborative initiatives.
