News

The first international incubation program for local game studios, organized through the partnership between the Innovation and Digital Development Agency (IDDA) and “Xsolla,” has concluded. Participating teams presented their projects in front of a jury and investors on August 7 during the “Demo Day.” The official closing ceremony took place on August 8, where the winners of the competition, with a total prize fund of 225,000 AZN, were announced.

During the closing event, Taleh Karimli, Head of the Innovation Ecosystem Department at IDDA, emphasized the significant positive impact the incubation program will have on the development of the local gaming industry: “We at IDDA recognize the potential of the local gaming ecosystem and pay special attention to its development. Through this incubation program, our country’s game studios have acquired crucial knowledge and skills for accessing international markets and learned advanced practices from global experts.”

Fuad Karimov, Regional Executive Director of “Xsolla,” highlighted the importance of the cooperation between IDDA and Xsolla, particularly noting that the incubation program is an invaluable contribution to local talents and creates new prospects for their future development.

The projects of the participating game studios were evaluated by a jury consisting of local and international experts. The jury included Ernest Chang, Lead Video Game Analyst at Xsolla; Rebekka Lautner, Head of Business at Landfall Games; Casper Tanner-Barns, Head of Business Portfolio at Fireshine Games; Ilayda Bayari, Vice President of Business Development for Southern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa at Xsolla; Vusal Karimli, Founder and CEO of Gamepons; and Novruz Javadov, Founder of Darts Games studio.

During the closing ceremony, the three winners of the “Xsolla–IDDA Incubation Program” were announced:

• First place: Cool Bears Game Studio (100,000 AZN)

• Second place: Exterra (75,000 AZN)

• Third place: Dynamic Box (50,000 AZN)

It is noteworthy that IDDA began cooperating last year with Xsolla, a globally recognized game commerce company, to strengthen the development of Azerbaijan’s gaming ecosystem. Within the framework of this cooperation, the first hybrid-format international incubation program, “Xsolla–IDDA Incubation Program,” has been held since May 12 of this year. The primary goal of the program is to boost the development of high-potential local game studios by bringing advanced international experience and mentoring support to the country.