Bridging the Gaming Industry Between East and West

Meridian Play is a gaming corporate advisory and accelerator focused on building cross-border partnerships between East and West. We support studios and publishers with:

Go-To-Market Strategy

Asia Market Entry

Long-Term Strategic Partnerships

East-West Market Expansion

About us

Ilya Gutov

CEO & Founder • Shenzhen, China

Ilya Gutov is the CEO and Founder of Meridian Play. With over a decade of experience in the APAC gaming industry, he works with studios, publishers, and tech companies on international expansion and strategic partnerships across China and the broader region. He advises on go-to-market strategy, Asia market entry, and global growth.

Meridian Play is a team of 10 cross-border professionals, headquartered in Shenzhen, with deep expertise in publishing, strategic partnerships, and expansion across China, Korea, Southeast Asia, and Japan.

70+

Publishing & strategic deals

$42M+

Capital raised for studios

12+

years operating between APAC & Western markets

M&A transactions and exits

Meridian Play is supported by a team of 10 professionals with cross-border experience between Asia and Western markets, many of whom previously worked at leading gaming companies and investment firms.

Headquartered in Shenzhen, the team brings deep experience across Asia’s key gaming markets - China, Korea, Southeast Asia, and Japan — in publishing, strategic partnerships, and international market expansion.

Our team consists of seasoned professionals with experience at well-established companies in the gaming industry

What We Do

Market Entry Support

We help companies enter new markets by establishing local teams, setting up regional entities, and developing tailored go-to-market strategies.

Regulatory & Local Navigation

We guide you through local regulations, business practices, and operational challenges with the support of strong regional networks.

Strategic Partnerships

If you are looking to work with reliable local partners, we help identify and build long-term strategic relationships.

Publishing & Operations

We source trusted partners for publishing, payments, solutions, game services, localization, and cultural adaptation.

Market Intelligence

We provide insights into local market trends and developments, enabling you to make informed strategic decisions.

Corporate Advisory

Connecting the Industry

We connect you with regional corporations, developers, and publishers beyond your primary geographic focus, creating opportunities for strategic partnerships, collaborations, and potential joint ventures.

Go-to-Market Excellence

We help develop go-to-market strategies and support management in planning regional expansion. We provide access to regional corporate partners and key industry players to accelerate market entry. For your products, we design tailored release plans, assess market fit, and identify the most effective path to market.

Market Research & Intelligence

We conduct market research including game category analysis, competitor analysis, and local market insights to help position your products effectively and make informed strategic decisions.

Insights & Compliance

We provide business intelligence and due diligence, while supporting you in navigating regulatory requirements, government relations, and local gaming programs.

Accelerator

Focused on early-stage and emerging studios that need external business support to grow and scale

Publisher Connections

We connect you with publishing partners to expand your game’s reach and support successful market entry.

Investment Support

We assist with fundraising and provide introductions to venture capital, private equity, family offices, and strategic investors.

Business Strategy Guidance

We offer practical guidance on business strategy and help build value-creating partnerships.

Industry Knowledge

We offer practical guidance on business strategy and help build value-creating partnerships.

Agreement Assistance

We support studios in structuring, drafting, and reviewing agreements with investors and publishing partners.

Growth

We turn your game and studio into a scalable business.

Partners

The Meridian Play team's expertise and dedication to fostering growth in startups have been invaluable, particularly in the gaming sector. They successfully introduced three business partners to our startup in Indonesia, significantly enhancing our market reach. Additionally, their contributions to EsportsXO were noteworthy, as they brought in key partners and opportunities that propelled the startup forward. Their expertise in the APAC region has proven to be a tremendous asset.

Nick Ponomarev

SOSV | Orbit Startups - Senior Investment Analyst

I have personally known Ilya for years and collaborated with him on several projects in China. His on-the-ground presence provides invaluable insights into the Asian market. I highly recommend partnering with Meridian Play, as I am confident they will handle your project with the utmost care and professionalism, ensuring every detail is expertly managed to unlock its full potential.

Hannah Han

Bubble Tea Studios, Director of Partnerships

Meridian Play is composed of an experienced team of professionals with vast knowledge of the CN and APAC markets. They are well-informed about local opportunities and get things done efficiently. My relationship with the team members predates Meridian, as they were managing the MyGames portfolio in the APAC region. Multiple titles were signed and have proven successful in the Chinese market.

Alex Sorbac

iDreamsky Technology

The Meridian Play team has a profound knowledge of and connections in the Chinese and APAC gaming markets. The team members are true professionals who combine market expertise, solid vision, and integrity.

Ivan Karpinsky

Azur Interactive Games. Greater China Chief Business Officer

Ilya Gutov from Meridian Play has played an important role in building bridges between the East and West gaming markets for many years, providing invaluable expertise for your expansion ambitions. He has been a great mentor and advisor during the initial steps of my business development career and has always been a reliable and straightforward businessman.

Pavel Melman

Aidian Network Technology, Business Development Manager

It has always been a pleasure to work with Meridian Play. I’ve had the chance to collaborate with them several times, and it has always been easy. They respond quickly, sign contracts promptly, provide strong communication support, and are willing to travel for face-to-face meetings.

Dominic Plamondon

Teebik Inc., Business Director

Ilya was key in finding a premium publisher for our indie game in China. We needed a regional partner, and Ilya's intervention was critical—first, to solve a legal issue with another entity in the region, then to help with the negotiation phase and ultimately sign with a Chinese publisher. This allowed us to secure the funding needed to finish the game and a good partner for distribution. I highly recommend working with Meridian; I trust Ilya and his team completely.

Iñaki Díaz

Appnormals Team, CEO, Co-Founder

We have long and strong connections with the Meridian Play team. They are helping us reach our Asian investors and publishers. Everyone knows how hard it is to enter the Chinese market nowadays. A huge thanks to Ilya personally for finding a solid Chinese publisher for our mobile game, 'Bowling Clash.' We had many unsuccessful attempts previously, and only Meridian Play finally led us to the real deal.

Evgenii Luubetskii

Square Triangle, CEO

A big thank you to Ilya for his help. Every time we needed something, we received it really fast. I highly recommend these guys.

Andrey Belousov

Door 407, Co-Founder

Ilya Gutov is a leading expert in the Chinese gaming market, with an extensive network of high-level contacts and a deep understanding of navigating relationships with publishers. He guided us through the early stages of the publishing and licensing process for Shadow Fight 3, laying the foundation for us to build a dedicated team focused on this region.

Nikita Korzhavin

Nekki, CBDO

Highly professional and efficient. Every aspect of the workflow was seamless and enjoyable. This is truly one of the best teams I have had the pleasure of collaborating with.

Mike Fei

ZPLAY, Global Business Development Director

I have known Ilya from Meridian Play for ages, and I can tell that he is an exceptional professional with vast knowledge of Asian gaming markets and an incredible work ethic. Every collaboration with Ilya has been straight to the point and free of unnecessary chatter.

Dmitriy Byshonkov

MY.GAMES, Senior Business Development Manager

Working with the Meridian Play team was excellent. They provided invaluable support, helping me successfully navigate the fundraising process and secure my first investor.

Piotr Grechun

Top Joy Games, Founder

Meridian Play is an exceptional partner for any studio looking to enter the Asian market. Their expertise and established network with all key local strategic players make navigating this growing market seamless and effective, positioning studios for long-term success.

Evgeniia Samsonova

Level 4/64, Investment Team

I've never met anyone except Ilya who has so much knowledge about how to prepare, adapt, navigate regulations, and open and run an international game in China.

Roman Polyak

MY.GAMES, CBDO

The Meridian team helped me establish effective communication with investors and improved our business offer. Ilya assisted us in quickly finding suitable investors.

Leonid Gorbachev

Mind Control Interactive, Director

Working with the Meridian Play team has been a fantastic experience. Their deep connections across China and Southeast Asia, coupled with their extensive knowledge of the gaming industry, have been invaluable in helping us forge key partnerships and gain valuable insights into these markets.

Julia Lebedeva

COO & Partner, WN Media Group

We have had great success in China with our mobile games! Thanks to Meridian Play for their invaluable support!

Alexander Lebedev

AppLife, CEO & Founder

It's a pleasure working with Ilya. They are always available, consistently providing the highest quality advice while upholding the utmost professionalism and standards of work.

Andrei Podoprigora

Forklift Interactive, СEO

I have had a very positive experience working with Ilya. He is always quick to respond to any inquiries or concerns.

Apol Dionglay

Playpark, CCO