Game & Mobile App Incentives in Turkey (2025–2026): Recover Up to 70% of Your Software and Advertising Costs
1. Introduction: The Rising Power of Turkey’s Game Industry
The global mobile gaming and app development market continues to expand, but so do operational costs — particularly for software licenses and digital advertising.
In Turkey, where mobile developers increasingly dominate the export scene, the Ministry of Trade has created a series of financial incentive programs designed to reduce these burdens.
If your company develops or publishes mobile games or digital applications, you can reclaim up to 60% – even 70% in certain cases – of your software and advertising expenditures under official government support schemes.
These programs are not speculative benefits — they are active, audited, and financially substantial mechanisms that can dramatically improve your studio’s cost-efficiency and international competitiveness.
Developers depend on paid platforms like Unity, Figma, Adobe, and JetBrains to bring their creative visions to life. Recognizing this, the Ministry of Trade reimburses a portion of these license costs for export-focused digital companies.
✅ Core Conditions:
The company must be registered as a service exporter.
The license must be purchased directly from the software company or its authorized reseller.
The software must be on the approved incentive list, which is updated periodically.
🧾 Supported Licenses (2025 List)
| Category | Example Tools |
| Game Engines | Unity, Unreal Engine |
| 3D & Design | 3Ds Max, Maya, ZBrush, Adobe Animate, After Effects, Substance 3D |
| Collaboration & DevOps | Docker, JetBrains, Sentry |
| UI/UX & Design | Figma, Canva, Graphic |
| Testing & QA | BrowserStack, Burp Suite, SonarCloud |
| Real-Time & Cloud Tools | Agora.io, Apollo, Photon, Modmob, Vyond |
💰 Support Ratio
60% reimbursement of eligible license costs
In specific export categories or Technopark partnerships, this may rise to 70%
3. Why Authorized Distributors Matter
Not all purchases qualify. To be eligible for reimbursement, the invoice must come from:
The software provider directly (e.g. Unity Technologies), or
An authorized local distributor listed on the official partner website.
For instance, if you buy your Unity license through Codeo, it’s covered — because Codeo is listed as Unity’s authorized reseller.
If you purchase through an unverified marketplace or intermediary, the claim will be automatically rejected.
Always verify authorization by:
Checking the software’s official partner/reseller list, or
Requesting a written reseller certificate before making payment.
⚠️ Purchases from non-authorized sellers are not eligible for government support.
4. Advertising: The Real Growth Engine for Mobile Apps
For mobile apps and games, advertising is not optional — it’s the lifeblood of growth.
User acquisition, engagement, and monetization all rely on a robust ad strategy. Yet advertising can consume up to 60% of a company’s annual budget.
The Turkish Ministry of Trade recognizes this and offers export-oriented digital marketing support, allowing studios to recover up to 70% of their ad spend when promoting their apps internationally.
🔹 Supported Ad Channels:
Google Ads (Search, Display, UAC)
Meta Ads (Facebook, Instagram, Audience Network)
TikTok Ads, Unity Ads, AppLovin
Influencer or content marketing aimed at foreign users
Digital PR and paid collaborations for international app launches
📋 Key Requirements:
Campaigns must be targeted at foreign markets, not domestic audiences.
Ads must be invoiced to the company (not to individual employees).
Proof of payment and campaign reports must be submitted in the export support file.
Under these conditions, advertising expenses can be reimbursed by 50–70%, depending on the campaign type and export linkage.
5. Why the Turkish Government Supports This
The government’s 2025–2030 Service Export Strategy identifies gaming, software, and digital media as strategic export sectors.
The rationale is straightforward:
To retain foreign exchange by offsetting imported service costs,
To enhance global competitiveness of Turkish creative industries, and
To support high-tech and creative service exports through fiscal relief.
These programs fall under the broader policy umbrella of Law No. 1567 (Protection of the Value of Turkish Currency) and the Service Export Support Communiqué, jointly implemented by the Ministry of Trade and Service Exporter Unions.
6. Combined Strategy: Software + Advertising + R&D
Smart studios don’t treat these supports separately — they design a comprehensive financial optimization plan that combines three pillars of incentive:
| Expense Type | Support Ratio | Legal Basis | Example |
| Software Licenses | 60–70% | Service Export Support Communiqué | Unity, Adobe, Figma |
| Digital Advertising | 50–70% | Ministry of Trade Marketing Incentive | Google UAC Campaigns |
| R&D Personnel | 100% Income Tax + SGK Exemption | Law No. 4691 (Technopark) | Developer Salaries |
Through this layered approach, a mobile game or app company can reduce total operational costs by nearly 50%, while maintaining full compliance and eligibility for future programs.
7. Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Buying software through unauthorized marketplaces
❌ Mixing personal-use and company-use ad accounts
❌ Submitting invoices lacking tax ID or proof of export
❌ Failing to document campaign reports or payment proofs
Each of these mistakes can invalidate your reimbursement application.
Compliance and proper documentation are non-negotiable.
8. Reach us
If your mobile app or game generates revenue and you spend on software licenses or ad campaigns, you’re already eligible for state-backed reimbursement.
Most companies simply fail to apply — or apply incorrectly.
💡 OZM Consultancy helps studios:
Identify all eligible costs
Prepare and submit support files correctly
Align ad and license purchases with Ministry compliance standards
Combine Technopark, export, and marketing incentives into one cohesive structure
👉 Contact OZM Consultancy today to evaluate your eligibility and recover your 2025–2026 expenses before the support window closes.
info@ozmconsultancy.com
