Scopely acquires a majority stake in the Istanbul studio behind Pixel Flow!, valuing the company at over $1 billion and creating a new unicorn from Türkiye.
Scopely, one of the world’s leading mobile gaming companies, has reached a definitive agreement to acquire a majority stake in the Istanbul-based studio behind Pixel Flow!, marking a new unicorn success story from Türkiye. Financial terms were not disclosed, but the multi-year, performance-based deal is reported to value the company at over $1 billion.
Launched at the end of 2025 by founders Kübra Gündoğan (CEO) and Emre Çelik (CTO), the hybrid-casual puzzle game Pixel Flow! has gained significant traction within its first year, supported by its puzzle mechanics and hybrid monetisation model, combining in-app purchases and advertising. The game quickly surpassed 10 million players and, over the past 12 months, has been the only casual title to rank among the top 20 highest-grossing mobile games in the United States on a monthly basis.
Tim O’Brien, Chief Revenue Officer at Scopely, highlighted the team’s creative approach, rapid iteration cycles and early commercial traction, noting that the investment aligns with Scopely’s strategy of partnering with high-performing studios worldwide.
Studio CEO Kübra Gündoğan said the game was built on a vision to deliver a genuinely original experience and noted that strong player feedback has been a key motivator for the team.
The strong feedback from players has been incredibly motivating for our team. Scopely’s global scaling expertise will support our growth while preserving our creative independence.
she said.
The approximately 20-person team will continue operating from Istanbul, further reinforcing Türkiye’s position as a dynamic game development hub in the EMEA region. The studio previously completed a seed funding round with participation from Arcadia Gaming Partners and e2vc. Akın Babayiğit, Managing Director of Arcadia Gaming Partners, described the transaction as one of the most notable success stories in the Turkish gaming sector in recent years.
Overall, the partnership is viewed not only as a successful exit but also as a signal of the Turkish gaming industry’s expanding presence on the global stage.