Once a quiet Mediterranean holiday destination best known for its sun, sea, and maybe its financial sector, Cyprus has over the past few years emerged as a key player in the global gaming industry. The island has become a magnet for game developers, publishers, and tech talent. This transformation, accelerated in part by geopolitical shifts, has positioned Cyprus as a serious contender in the gaming world, particularly in mobile gaming.

My first-time visiting the country was only last year when I attended another industry event in Limassol, during which I was fortunate enough to visit my good friend Anton Gorodetsky, Head of Industry Relations at the MY.GAMES office, I recall fondly standing on the roof of the building looking over at the ocean thinking what a place to do what you love. The next half-hour or so, Anton gave me the lowdown on some of the unique facts of the industry there - you have teams from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and others all working together in harmony. To get a passport you need to complete a test and part of that is learning Greek to name a few things that remained with me.

Over the next few days I had a variety of meetings with all sorts of people and companies, most of which were done with a cold drink, sun glasses and 27 degree pure sunshine, and maybe even some faint greek music in the background.

The Mediterranean island, with its favourable tax policies, EU membership, and strategic location, quickly became a preferred destination, Limassol has been a top tourist location for a while, and there is a lot of the investment in growing the city also comes from those exact people over that time.

My.Games and Playrix have established significant operations in Cyprus, joining other key industry players that had already set up shop, such as Nexters and Wargaming. This migration wasn’t just about company headquarters, it brought with it an influx of talent, developers, and industry veterans, turning cities like Limassol into gaming tech hubs like few in the world.

These game companies currently lean much more towards mobile development. The reason? The most successful companies who relocated to the country like Playrix, known for mobile hits like Gardenscapes and Homescapes, have historically been mobile first, which brought focused experience and talent in that area. 

That said, PC and console gaming still maintain a presence, largely through the efforts of companies like Wargaming, which made its mark with World of Tanks. Yet, even within this space, trends are shifting, more developers are exploring cross-platform strategies to maximize reach and revenue. Cloud gaming, subscription services, and mobile-friendly PC experiences are reshaping how Cyprus-based studios approach game development.

While Cyprus may not be home to blockbuster AAA console franchises, its gaming studios excel in specific genres:

• Casual & Puzzle Games: Playrix leads the charge here, capitalizing on the mass appeal of accessible, free-to-play games with deep monetization strategies.

• Strategy & MMO: Wargaming has cemented its reputation with large-scale online multiplayer titles. Meanwhile, companies like Nexters have found success with strategy-based mobile games.

• Hybrid-Casual: Many smaller mobile developers are moving into hybrid-casual titles, blending the accessibility of casual games with deeper mechanics to drive engagement and retention.

With an ever-growing pool of talent, strong government incentives, and a favourable business climate (not to mention a normal one!), Cyprus is poised to strengthen its role as a global gaming hub. The island is already seeing additional increased investment in esports, blockchain gaming, and AI-driven development tools, indicators that the industry isn’t just growing but evolving from games.

As new startups inevitably start to emerge, Cyprus will continue to shape the future of mobile and PCC gaming. I equally think other studios from other regions will also start thinking about relocation due to the tax benefits. And with the increasing overlap between platforms and business models, I think we can expect to see said companies push into new markets, defining the next generation of gaming experiences globally.

The Mediterranean isn’t just a place for sun and relaxation anymore, it’s a location that all of us in games should keep an eye on, and maybe even visit for a conference… and some cocktails in the sun.