By Sagar V. Mankar 
Africa‘s gaming industry has hit a remarkable milestone, generating $1 billion in revenue during 2024, with mobile gaming emerging as the powerhouse behind this success. According to the latest industry report from Maliyo Games, mobile platforms account for an impressive 90% of the market.
Regional Leaders
South Africa continues to dominate the market, despite experiencing a slight dip from $115.8 million in 2022 to $111.9 million in 2024. The country’s gaming sector shows promise for the future, with projections suggesting growth to $333 million by 2026.
Nigeria has emerged as the continent’s success story, with revenues soaring from $11 million in 2019 to $60.9 million in 2024. This dramatic increase is largely attributed to the country’s young, tech-savvy population embracing gaming culture.
In contrast, Egypt’s gaming revenue, which grew until 2021, is projected to fall to $39.1 million by 2024. Tunisia and Algeria also show similar trends. Tunisia’s revenue peaked at $15 million in 2021 but dropped to $6.8 million in 2024, while Algeria saw a decline from $12.5 million in 2021 to $8 million in 2024.
Popular Games and Revenue Streams
The African gaming market has seen several titles achieve significant success:
- Candy Crush leads the pack with $50 million in revenue
- PUBG Mobile follows with $40 million
- Roblox has generated $25 million
- Popular sports titles EA Sports FC and eFootball each earned $10 million
Growing Gaming Industry Infrastructure
The continent’s game development scene is experiencing remarkable growth, with the number of studios increasing significantly across different regions:
- West Africa saw a dramatic jump from 12 to 57 studios
- Southern Africa expanded from 5 to 35 studios
- East Africa grew from 8 to 24 studios
- Central Africa increased from 1 to 8 studios
- North Africa now has 6 studios, up from just 1
Industry Demographics and Challenges
The 2024 Africa Game Developer Survey revealed interesting insights about the industry’s composition:
- 66 studios and 55 indie developers participated, marking a 42% increase from the previous year
- 92% of participants were under 34 years old
- Only 12% of respondents were female, highlighting a significant gender gap
Future Outlook
Hugo Obi, founder and CEO of Maliyo Games, expressed optimism about the industry’s direction, noting significant achievements including increased participation in industry events and innovative collaborations like the Disney Iwájú Rising Chef game.
While mobile gaming currently dominates, console and PC gaming are also gaining traction in countries like Nigeria, South Africa, Morocco, and Algeria. The industry’s future looks promising, with emerging technologies like AR and VR beginning to make their mark.