Nicosia, Cyprus. Private equity firm Zubr Capital has announced a Series A investment in Cyprus-based Soloband Games. The company said the deal marks a step in the expansion of Cyprus’s gaming ecosystem.
Investment and growth plans
According to a statement from the Cyprus-based firm, the investment represents a new phase of growth for Soloband Games as it seeks to scale its flagship product and strengthen its position in the global mobile gaming market.
Studio focus and flagship title
Soloband Games develops casual mobile titles, with its leading game, World Tour Merge, positioned within the Merge 2 genre, where players combine items to progress through levels and unlock content.
Team and early support
The studio is supported by a team of 25 professionals, including founders with more than a decade of experience in gaming and expertise spanning game design, live operations and product scaling. The team includes talent from studios such as Playrix and Melsoft, while early backing came from Andrei Yarantsau and Alexander Shilyaev, former Melsoft executives, who contributed capital and operational expertise.
Market outlook and company performance
The global mobile gaming in-app market is expected to approach 100 billion dollars by 2028, with the Merge 2 segment showing continued growth in downloads and revenue. Soloband Games has surpassed one million downloads and achieved a 4.8 player rating, alongside what it described as positive revenue momentum.
Statements from Zubr Capital and Soloband Games
“Soloband Games represents exactly the kind of company we look to support, with deep expertise, proven product fit, strong retention and a clear path to scaling,” said Zubr Capital investment director Nikita Krivelevich. “We are convinced the company is well positioned to capture a meaningful share of the Merge 2 segment globally,” he added.
“Since 2024 we have focused on building products that feel modern and meet the highest standards while offering intuitive and familiar design that keeps players engaged,” said Soloband Games chief executive officer Aleksandr Kislitsyn.
What do you think this investment could mean for Cyprus’s gaming ecosystem?