In 2024, the African video game market continues to grow exponentially. Two years ago, already 200 million Africans were playing games on their mobile phones. This generated $862.8 million in revenue, including $778.6 million from smartphone games.
Experts predict that 2024 will be the year the gaming industry in sub-Saharan Africa surpasses the billion-dollar revenue mark for the first time.
Small players, big issues
The explosion of the video game industry in Africa is mainly due to the initiative of small, ambitious players. For example, studios like Celestial Games in South Africa, Kuluya in Nigeria and Kiro’o Games in Cameroon tell African stories and address local issues. These studios stand out from major Western productions by creating games like Da’karapid from Kayfo Games or Kidnapped from Maliyo Games, which reflect African realities.
Despite the dynamism of the sector, challenges remain. Indeed, power cuts and limited access to high-speed Internet connections continue to hamper the development of the industry. According to a survey conducted by Game Hub Senegal, 82% of African developers believe that electrification is essential for the development of the industry. Furthermore, improving connectivity, particularly through the deployment of 5G, is essential to support this growth.
Also read: Nigeria: A plan for 3.5 million electric meters
International collaboration and financing: The keys to success
To establish itself on the world stage, African gaming must rely on fruitful collaboration with international players. On this subject, Mickaël Newton of Ubisoft underlines the importance of sharing skills and know-how between Africa and Europe. This win-win model could allow the emergence of blockbusters from the continent, while respecting local cultural specificities.
Attracting investors is also essential to support the growth of the African video game industry. In this regard, Wilson Nyah, investment advisor, emphasizes the importance of communication to raise investors’ awareness of the opportunities offered by the continent. Showing the quality of games produced in Africa and meeting potential investors in Europe and the United States will help unlock new funding.
Also read: Africa’s new roads: China and Vietnam strengthen their collaboration with the continent
Smartphones and competition: A double challenge for African gaming
The increase in the number of smartphones and the deployment of 5G have played a key role in the growth of gaming in Africa. In 2022, games represented 36% of the 500 most downloaded applications on the continent. Additionally, the majority of African users play on Android devices, making mobile gaming easier to access.
However, despite this progress, African developers are still struggling to find a place against Chinese and European players. China dominates the African market with nearly 40% of titles in the top 100 most played games. Thus, African creators, although inventive, still have to overcome many obstacles to compete on a global scale.
