Gaming is a huge industry, which is generating billions in revenue across the globe every year. Online eSports are booming as well, and are being included in major sporting events like the Asian Games. Africa has less of a dedicated gaming population than the east and west. Only recently has gaming started to take off in the country and investment is still scarce. Below, we discuss the growth of gaming on the continent.
The Current Boom
The African market is different from that on other continents, particularly in the US and Europe. Here, many people have grown up with games, often as the main form of entertainment in a household. ExpressVPN revealed that people in their late twenties to early forties are more dedicated to gaming than the younger generation. The amount of time spent on gaming each week increased with age; 18% of people in the 46 to 55 age group spend more than 24 hours per week gaming.
In contrast, AfroGamer reported the average age of gamers in Africa is around 19 years of age, compared to the age of 44 in Western Europe. There is a huge difference in the demographics, but one that offers a lot of promise to manufacturers and developers. As this group ages, along with positive growth in African countries and the emergence of a middle class with disposable income, gaming can become widespread.
Barriers to the Development of African Gaming
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The growth looks promising, there are several barriers to growth. Africa has long had a reputation for its unreliable digital payment systems. This has staved off investment from larger companies such as Sony PlayStation and Xbox.
Another issue is online connectivity. The countries with the highest numbers of gamers are South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, and Kenya. All of these have large cities and metropolises, where better internet access is available. If internet access was increased in more rural countries, the number of gamers could increase too.
Mobile Gaming
Like many Southeast Asian countries, gaming on mobile devices has become extremely popular, almost as much as on their console counterparts. The main reason is that people use their mobile devices for all forms of entertainment. As more young people gain access to smartphones, mobile games will become more prevalent.
The downside of this is low-cost phones. With low storage and slow processing and nearly non-existed in-app purchases. Game developers are adapting to the African market. This is done with a subscription method. Players will pay in advance and the game is then unlocked for a set amount of time for them to play. There are also several alternatives to the Google Play Store in Africa where games can be found, such as the Opera Mobile Store where games are available to buy.
The gaming industry in Africa seems to be mirroring the continent’s economic success. As countries become richer and increase their online infrastructure while providing a disposable income, the gaming industry is growing. A larger market of African gamers brings more exciting ideas and a refreshed target audience. Could this bring forth another video game renaissance? Time will tell.
by: CynthiaWriter