African Video Game Report 2026
The report establishes that Africa’s video‑game industry has entered a phase of rapid maturation, driven largely by mobile play in urban centres such as South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya. Mobile accounts for roughly 90 % of the $1.8 billion market in 2024, with a 10 % year‑over‑year rise in players to 349 million. PC and console remain niche but critical for studio visibility, with Steam dominating distribution (≈70 % of PC use) and local platforms like Gara and Jiwe capturing the remainder. Funding for studios is overwhelmingly sourced from international incubators and grants—Pro Helvetia, the French Agence Française de Développement, the British Council’s Ignite Culture and Digital Lab Africa—yet local infrastructure gaps (low internet penetration, limited payment systems, unreliable electricity) continue to constrain broader market development.
Key findings show that the fastest‑growing economies—Eritrea, Niger, Egypt, Ethiopia, Nigeria and South Africa—host studios such as Maliyo Games, Kayfc and Legends of Orisha that are producing mobile‑first IP while experimenting with higher‑production PC/console titles. Female representation and gender inclusivity are addressed through programmes like Pro Helvetia’s “She Got Game”, yet overall skill development remains uneven, with many studios still operating at the indie level and lacking robust business training.
The esports sector mirrors this mobile dominance, with titles like PUBG Mobile and Free Fire generating substantial prize pools and viewership across hubs such as Morocco, Egypt and Kenya. However, talent development is concentrated in a handful of urban centres, leaving Francophone and non‑English speaking regions underrepresented.
The analysis concludes that sustainable growth hinges on three pillars: deeper, studio‑level talent development; reliable data infrastructure for market intelligence; and evolved payment systems that reduce friction. Strengthening African‑European partnerships, expanding local incubation pathways, and ensuring annual data updates are essential to unlock the continent’s commercial potential while preserving African leadership in game creation.
