Country Reports·Updated Apr 8, 2026 by Maliyo Games
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.
Free-to-play with in-app purchases is the dominant revenue model, with approximately one-third of players currently making in-app purchases.
Infrastructure remains the primary barrier to growth, with 71% of developers citing unreliable power and 57% citing high internet costs as significant impediments.
Despite the sector's scale, only 36% of surveyed developers currently earn income from their games.
The industry is primarily composed of small-to-medium studios and solo developers who predominantly utilize the Unity engine for mobile and PC platforms.
Unlocking the sector's potential requires a five-factor ecosystem strategy focusing on infrastructure, talent development, investor education, industry connectivity, and proven success metrics.
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.
Free-to-play with in-app purchases is the dominant revenue model, with approximately one-third of players currently making in-app purchases.
Infrastructure remains the primary barrier to growth, with 71% of developers citing unreliable power and 57% citing high internet costs as significant impediments.
Despite the sector's scale, only 36% of surveyed developers currently earn income from their games.
The industry is primarily composed of small-to-medium studios and solo developers who predominantly utilize the Unity engine for mobile and PC platforms.
Unlocking the sector's potential requires a five-factor ecosystem strategy focusing on infrastructure, talent development, investor education, industry connectivity, and proven success metrics.