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Africa’s Gaming Industry Generates $1 Billion in Revenue, Driven by Mobile Gaming

Africa’s gaming industry is projected to generate $1 billion in revenue in 2024, with mobile gaming making up nearly 90% of the market. This is according to Maliyo Games’ 2025 Africa Games Industry Report, which also highlights key trends across various regions on the continent.

South Africa remains the leader in gaming revenue, reaching $115.8 million in 2022, though this slightly declined to $111.9 million in 2024. Egypt, which experienced growth until 2021, is expected to see its revenue fall to $39.1 million by 2024. Nigeria, on the other hand, has seen significant growth, with revenue surging from $11 million in 2019 to $60.9 million in 2024, driven by its youthful population.

Tunisia and Algeria have experienced fluctuating trends, with Tunisia peaking at $15 million in 2021 but declining to $6.8 million in 2024, while Algeria saw a drop from $12.5 million in 2021 to $8 million in 2024, reflecting changing consumer behaviors and economic factors.

Mobile gaming remains dominant, but console and PC gaming are seeing growth in countries such as Nigeria, South Africa, Morocco, and Algeria, with PlayStation and Xbox making notable progress. Several popular games have led revenue generation, particularly through in-app purchases on Android and iOS. Leading titles include Candy Crush, which generated $50 million, followed by PUBG Mobile at $40 million. Other top performers include Roblox ($25 million), Royal Match and Free Fire ($15 million each), and Lords Mobile ($12 million). Football-themed games like EA Sports FC and eFootball each earned $10 million, while 8 Ball Pool and Yalla Ludo earned $8 million and $5 million, respectively.

Looking ahead, South Africa’s market is projected to grow from $266 million in 2023 to $333 million by 2026, driven by mobile gaming and esports. Nigeria’s gaming market earned $249 million in 2021, while Kenya’s sector generated $46 million the same year, with significant growth expected in mobile, AR, and VR games.

Maliyo’s report also notes the increase in game studios across Africa, with the continent now hosting around 250 game studios. West Africa saw a dramatic rise from 12 studios in 2023 to 57 in 2024. Southern Africa’s studios grew from five to 35, and East Africa expanded from eight to 24 studios. Central Africa’s studios increased from one to eight, while North Africa saw modest growth from one to six studios.

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