Africa’s gaming industry experienced rapid growth last year, expanding nearly six times faster than the global average, driven by the increasing demand for mobile entertainment, including popular games like Candy Crush and Roblox.
According to an annual analysis by New York-based mobile gaming publisher Carry1st (ADG Technology Inc.) and San Francisco-based Newzoo LLC, the industry’s revenue surged 12% to $1.8 billion, significantly outpacing the global growth rate of 2.1%.
The number of gamers on the continent grew by 10% to 349 million, with mobile gaming contributing 89% of total revenue. Africa’s young, tech-savvy population is increasingly using smartphones for entertainment, benefiting from lower data costs, improved internet speeds, and dedicated gaming servers that have enhanced the gaming experience.
The region is “leapfrogging traditional platforms” and remains one of the few markets still experiencing significant growth in an otherwise maturing global industry, said Carry1st CEO Cordel Robbin-Coker.
Egypt led in gaming revenue, generating $368 million, followed by Nigeria at $300 million and South Africa at $278 million. Eritrea and Niger recorded the fastest growth rates, while Equatorial Guinea and Seychelles saw the slowest expansion.
African gamers are drawn to globally popular titles like Tencent’s Valorant and Call of Duty, noted Spencer Ma, Carry1st’s growth lead. First-person shooter games such as Call of Duty: Mobile, PUBG Mobile, Bloodstrike, and Free Fire are also gaining traction, alongside established favorites like Candy Crush and Roblox.
“These titles are frequently featured in African eSports competitions and continue to grow in popularity,” Ma added.
