Istikan Studio's Danar Kayfi: "Most investors and publishers still don't see Iraq as a place where games get made"

Erbil-based Istikan Studio is building a growing catalogue of games, from cosy tea shop simulator Istikan Chai to strategy game General Idler and upcoming title Bathroom Please!. The seven-person team operates as part of Iraqi telecom and digital solutions company Tornet, funding its development without outside investors. Ahead of Pocket Gamer Connects Jordan on November 7th and 8th, we speak to studio manager Danar Kayfi about finding an audience in China, building games rooted in Kurdish-Iraqi culture and what Iraq’s game development scene needs to help more local teams become sustainable businesses.