ISTANBUL 

StartGate, Türkiye's cutting-edge digital gaming and gaming technology entrepreneurship center, hosted an event on Wednesday bringing together key players from the film, animation, advertising and television industries with Epic Games, a leading global video game development company. 

At the event, held at Istanbul's StartGate Campus, Epic Games introduced their groundbreaking 3D design tool Unreal Engine, which has transformed interactive experiences and immersive virtual worlds across various industries including gaming, film, television, broadcasting, architecture, automotive and simulation, according to a statement from StartGate.

StartGate aims to create an ecosystem where initiatives that support and nurture each other come together, including actors from the entertainment industry outside the gaming sector.

During the event's opening speech, StartGate CEO Mustafa Cihat Durmus emphasized the ongoing digitalization in the cinema and TV sectors, highlighting the deep connection between cinema, often referred to as the seventh art, and video games, known as the eighth art, the statement said.

Durmus pointed out that the digital gaming sector now contributes not only captivating narratives but also cutting-edge effects, graphics and technologies to the film and television industries.

He also highlighted the growing trend of major digital platforms in integrating video games into their film and TV projects, showcasing the convergence of different aspects of the entertainment industry.

Durmus also discussed how gaming, once a neighborhood pastime, has now become an integral part of our daily lives, evolving from classics like Tetris and Atari to today's computer and console games as well as mobile gaming on smart devices.

These technological advancements not only change how we play games but also strengthen connections between different entertainment sectors, he noted.

StartGate aims to lead the digital gaming and technology industry, drawing upon its global media and communications experience to facilitate integration with other entertainment segments.

Durmus said the Istanbul event marks the beginning of this vision, with similar gatherings planned for the future.