Inside Istikan Studio: How an Erbil-Based Team is Bringing Kurdish-Iraqi Culture to the Global Gaming Stage

As the global games industry continually searches for fresh perspectives and untapped markets, attention is increasingly turning toward the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Among the emerging voices leading this charge is Istikan Studio, an Erbil-based developer operating out of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Functioning as the dedicated game development arm of the Iraqi telecom and digital solutions enterprise Tornet, this compact seven-person team is steadily building a diverse, internationally recognized catalogue without relying on traditional outside investors.

Ahead of Pocket Gamer Connects Jordan, taking place on November 7th and 8th, studio manager Danar Kayfi reflects on the studio’s rapid growth, an unexpected breakout success in China, the cultural roots inspiring their titles, and the infrastructural hurdles that local developers must overcome to build sustainable businesses in Iraq.

Brewed in Erbil: The Origins and Philosophy of Istikan Studio

The studio takes its name from the istikan—the traditional small glass in which tea is served throughout Iraq and wide swaths of the Middle East. According to local lore, the name originated when British colonial officers referred to the vessel as an "East Tea Can," a phrase that naturally evolved over time into "is-ti-kan." Just as the glass is a ubiquitous fixture in every regional home, office, and bustling bazaar, Kayfi and his team aspire for their games to achieve a similar level of cultural familiarity and accessibility.

Operating entirely in-house with a tight-knit team of three developers, three artists, and Kayfi—who manages operations while actively designing and writing code—the studio functions through collaborative pods of two. These agile pods typically take a game from its initial concept to store shelves in three to six months. This lean, self-sufficient structure allows the team to handle everything internally, from core engineering and art direction to quality assurance, digital storefront submissions, and ongoing post-launch updates. Every member of the team is Kurdish-Iraqi, a shared background that directly informs the distinct aesthetic and cultural texture of their games.

A Diverse and Rapidly Expanding Catalogue

Istikan Studio’s current release schedule is exceptionally busy. The social deduction and murder investigation puzzle game Social Suspect has recently launched on iOS and Android. Meanwhile, General Idler—a deep strategy idle game that tasks players with conquering a world comprising 195 countries—is transitioning from its demo phase to a full 1.0 release on Steam.

At the same time, the whimsical title Bathroom Please!, which features a frantic race to find a toilet through public parks, offices, and swimming pools where every step counts and crowds block the path, is heading into Steam Next Fest ahead of its launch. The team’s flagship cosy tea shop simulator, Istikan Chai, has already received multiple content updates, with a special Halloween expansion and participation in the Steam Autumn Sale on the horizon. Balancing such a heavy simultaneous release slate has required serious effort from the studio’s coffee machine, matching the output of its digital creations.

Rather than adhering to a single genre, the studio deliberately explores a wide variety of gameplay styles. From the agricultural management loops of Tiny Jar Farm to value-added services built for Tornet such as Animal Match and the football card game Torliga Champions, the team treats platform selection as a decision driven entirely by player habits. Cosy, short-session cooking titles like Istikan Chai naturally find a home on both PC via the Steam Deck and mobile devices, whereas deep, time-intensive strategy experiences like General Idler are tailored specifically for PC players willing to invest dozens of hours.

The Accidental Breakthrough in China

One of the most remarkable milestones for Istikan Studio has been the unexpected international reception of Istikan Chai, particularly in China. Without the backing of an external publisher, paid marketing campaigns, or even a localized social media presence on platforms like Bilibili or WeChat, more than 75% of the game’s Steam sales have originated from Chinese players.

Kayfi notes that while the game was shipped with Simplified Chinese localization from day one, the discovery was entirely organic—China essentially found the studio. The appeal appears to stem from a universally understood gameplay loop set within an unfamiliar, charming cultural backdrop. While players worldwide recognize the mechanics of taking orders, preparing items, serving customers, and upgrading a storefront, very few have ever experienced running a traditional tea stall in a Middle Eastern bazaar. Combined with a deep-seated tea culture in China, the cosy hand-drawn art style and expressive characters resonated deeply with local gamers, who frequently share screenshots highlighting intricate details like the traditional istikan glass, bazaar patterns, and market layouts.

Building on this momentum, the studio is taking a proactive approach with its upcoming cooking game, Tikka & Kebab, which simulates running a charcoal grill house in a Kurdish bazaar. Featuring professional Chinese localization from day one, the project aims to channel an accidental success into a deliberate global strategy.

Navigating the MENA Funding and Development Landscape

While the MENA region boasts a massive, digitally connected young demographic eager for authentic representation, local developers still face formidable practical challenges. According to Kayfi, while regional players are enthusiastic about seeing their cultures reflected on screen, the broader international community is often only familiar with the region through headlines. This creates a unique storytelling opportunity, but structural roadblocks remain steep.

Securing global online banking access, receiving store payments, and establishing developer accounts continue to be major hurdles in Iraq. Furthermore, because there is no established pipeline of legacy studios in the country, experienced game developers are rare, and many independent creators must learn their craft in isolation rather than within collaborative studio environments. Funding for local indie teams is typically polarized, flowing either toward very early-stage prototypes or to already established major corporations, leaving little support for mid-tier growth.

Istikan Studio sidesteps these traditional funding bottlenecks thanks to its backing by Tornet. Being embedded within an operating telecom enterprise provides financial stability across longer planning cycles rather than forcing survival from one venture capital funding round to the next. For future projects, the studio is actively seeking strategic publishing partners who can handle large-scale user acquisition and marketing in international territories that are difficult to reach directly from Erbil.

Future Outlook and Upcoming Projects

Looking ahead toward the remainder of the year and into 2027, Istikan Studio shows no signs of slowing down. Alongside ongoing live support and updates for Istikan Chai and General Idler, the team is developing BloooBleee, a chaotic party game centered around squishy blobs building towers and shoving each other off as rising floors threaten elimination. A demo for the title is planned for exhibition at Pocket Gamer Connects Jordan.

The studio’s most significant upcoming release is Tikka & Kebab, scheduled for a demo in December and a full Q1 2027 launch, accompanied by a new 3D mobile puzzle game currently in prototyping. As Istikan Studio continues to refine its pipeline, reuse foundational systems, and maintain strict scope discipline, its journey serves as a pioneering blueprint for sustainable game development emerging from Iraq and expanding across the global stage.