The African Gaming Scene: Everything You Need To Know
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Loading... - Susan Rono
- 21 Sep 2022
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Playing games in Africa is as old as the continent itself, so much so that there are various tournaments for indigenous games all over the continent. It’s no surprise that with the introduction of technology, the digital gaming fever would also take hold of Africans.
Africa has indeed been slower in the adoption of gaming compared to the other continents, mainly because gaming was restricted to those with disposable income for a long time. Over the years, tech companies have priced their products out of several markets. Nowadays, an entry-level home console is affordable for a middle-income family.
Africa, particularly South Africa and Nigeria, have become quite the playground for digital gaming. The African gaming market is predicted to grow by 100 million pounds in the next two years, which is quite conservative considering that the number of players has risen by more than 100% in the past five years.
iGaming
The most popular form of gaming is from home consoles and PC games, but with the evolution of cellphones and other handheld devices, iGaming has become just as popular. This includes casino apps as well as mobile casino sites. The advancement of technology has allowed gamers to access anything in the palm of their hand.
Popular Games
One in every five cellphones has Candy Crush Saga or a variant of the game, and this game is at the top of casual log-in gaming. It is followed closely by Gardenscapes and a slots-based game Coin Master. Of course, PUBG and platforms like Gamefinity provide avid gamers with more challenging titles.
DOTA 2 and League of Legends are some of the staples globally, and in South Africa, it’s no different. No gamer can call themselves a real gamer without these and World of Warcraft in their gaming library.
Esports titles like FIFA 21 and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive are also a hit with esports athletes.
Rest of Africa
South Africa is not the only country that has experienced a boom in video gaming over the past few years. Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda have also seen a spike in the gaming industry.
The gaming industry has seen growth not only in the number of gamers but also in the number of gaming developers. Of course, the continent is not yet at the level of its American and European counterparts, but there has been a rise in local game developers. Studios like Free Lives and 24 Bit Games are going strong, with Senegal’s Kayfo Games also making impressive strides. Read More…
