ReportMaliyo Games
Africa Games Industry Report 2024
1 Jan 202472 pages~63 min full read
The Sub-Saharan gamer base grew from 77 million in 2015 to 186 million in 2021, with mobile gaming driving 95% of the player base and nearly 90% of the region's $778.6 million revenue in 2022.
See it on page 37Free-to-play with in-app purchases is the dominant revenue model, with approximately one-third of players currently making in-app purchases.
See it on page 15Infrastructure remains the primary barrier to growth, with 71% of developers citing unreliable power and 57% citing high internet costs as significant impediments.
See it on page 58Despite the sector's scale, only 36% of surveyed developers currently earn income from their games.
See it on page 56The industry is primarily composed of small-to-medium studios and solo developers who predominantly utilize the Unity engine for mobile and PC platforms.
See it on page 50Unlocking the sector's potential requires a five-factor ecosystem strategy focusing on infrastructure, talent development, investor education, industry connectivity, and proven success metrics.
See it on page 64The Africa Games Industry Report 2024 presents a data‑driven assessment of the continent’s gaming ecosystem, targeting investors, policymakers, developers and the broader public. It argues that Africa’s youthful demographics, rapid mobile penetration and cultural diversity create a fertile environment for game development and monetisation. The report identifies fre‑to‑play with in‑app purchases as the dominant revenue model, while premium titles, ad‑based income, subscriptions and licensing remain viable alternatives for developers willing to overcome higher entry barriers.
Key findings show that the Sub‑Saharan gamer base has more than doubled from 77 million in 2015 to 186 million in 2021, with mobile gaming accounting for 95 % of players and nearly 90 % of the region’s $778.6 million revenue in 2022. Approximately one‑third of players make in‑app purchases, underscoring significant monetisation potential. The industry is largely composed of small to medium studios and solo developers, with Unity the preferred engine and mobile/PC platforms dominating. Yet only 36 % of respondents earn income from games, and infrastructure challenges—unreliable power (71 %) and costly internet (57 %)—continue to impede growth.
The report calls for coordinated action from investors, studios, policymakers and the public. It highlights mobile network operators and alternative payment systems as critical partners for expanding reach, while outlining a five‑factor ecosystem—reliable infrastructure, talent pathways, informed investors, connected industry and evidence of success—to unlock high‑value jobs, cultural exports and foreign investment. The overarching thesis is that Africa’s gaming sector is poised for rapid expansion, offering substantial economic and creative opportunities if these systemic barriers are addressed.
