Introduction
According to an industry report on mobile gaming published by Maliyo Games, 200 million African gamers spent hundreds of millions of dollars primarily on mobile platforms.
That’s a lot of phones and a lot of gaming.
We love our phones where I’m from in Africa.
I have a phone; my friends all have phones.
According to the 2020 State of the ICT Sector report, put together by the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA). SA’s smartphone penetration reached 91.2% in 2019, up from 81.7% in 2018.
According to Statista, as of 2022, around 91 per cent of Tunisian adults owned a mobile phone.
Tunisia enjoys one of the highest mobile phone subscriber rates in Africa.
How Many People Actually Use Smartphones?
In 2022, about 12.3 million internet subscribers, 81.3% (10 million) subscribed through their smartphones.
When I am out in public, I see people on their phones. On public transport, everyone is staring down at their phone.
I’m not trying to lament against the use of phones and start panicking about “Smartphone Zombies’.
When it comes to phone games, Africa is sitting on a gold mine—or, shall I say, a game mine.
Africa has the youngest population in the world, yet the African gaming industry is set to surpass 1 Billion (US dollars) this year alone.
According to Statista, in 2023, around 40 per cent of the population was aged 15 years or younger, compared to a global average of 25 per cent.
Based on the statistics, it does make sense that, in Africa, as I previously stated, we use our smartphones for everything!
Smartphones have become so much more essential to everyday life for so many people.
It makes much more economic sense to use one device for everything instead of having a personal phone, a work phone, a Laptop, a desktop, a gaming console, etc.
According to Time Doctor, the average monthly salary in Africa is approximately 769 USD (US dollar), as per the exchange rates in April 2023.
This is about ten times lower than in the USA and UK, where average salaries are 7,900 USD and 7,795 USD, respectively.
We live in a time when inexpensive Smartphones are better than ever.
They can be used for essential everyday tasks like making phone calls, using messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram, email, writing drafts, using most apps, using maps and taking pictures.
The cameras on the cheaper smartphones are much better than those on the midrange smartphones two years ago.
Where does mobile gaming fit into all of this?
Due to Smartphones being more affordable and having easily accessible mobile data. This has resulted in the rise in Smartphone use in Africa.
More people have access to devices that support gaming. So since we do everything else on our phones, it’s no surprise that we’re also gaming on our phones!
The Pan Africa Gaming Group (PAGG) and GeoPoll disclosed findings from a survey indicating that approximately 92% of gamers across the continent prefer gaming on their smartphones.
According to the Newzoo Global Games Market Report for 2023, Africans spend an average of $6 per year on games, predominantly through in-app purchases on mobile games.
Sub-Saharan Africa alone witnesses total in-app purchase spending of $778.6 million, constituting 90% of all games revenue in the region. South Africa leads with an average revenue per user of $12 per year according to the African Games Industry Report of 2022.
The surge of mobile gaming in Africa has been a driving force in economic and technological growth.
The rise in local economic opportunities has risen.
For one, African developers are now developing technology, apps, and games for the African market.
A startup in Lagos called ‘Chopup’ specializes in developing mobile games with African themes and characters.
There’s also huge potential for foreign investors in the mobile gaming sector.
In January, Egyptian esports platform Gbarena entered into an agreement to acquire Tunisia-based Galactech in a $15 million share swap deal.
South Africa-based gaming startup Carry1st, founded in 2018, recently raised US$27 million in a pre-Series B round, the single largest fundraiser for any African gaming startup.
Conclusion
The rise of mobile gaming in Africa is more than just a trend—it’s a game-changer. With 200 million gamers and an industry set to hit over $1 billion in revenue, mobile gaming has become a big part of everyday life here.
Africa’s young population and the widespread availability of affordable smartphones have created a vibrant gaming scene accessible to millions.
Smartphones are now essential tools, blending communication, work (I wrote a lot of this blog on my Smartphone), and entertainment into one handy device.
This makes sense economically, especially considering the average salary here.
The surge in mobile gaming is driven by cheaper, better-quality phones, making gaming an easy and popular pastime.
Beyond just fun, mobile gaming is boosting the local economy.
African developers are making games that really connect with local players, and international investors are showing growing interest.
Recent deals and funding rounds highlight the huge potential in this sector.
Africa is not uniform but a dynamic and varied terrain of mobile gaming communities. These communities span Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, South Africa, Morocco, Egypt, and beyond.
The horizon of Africa’s gaming world is exciting, reaching many communities and types of people.
The rise of mobile gaming is transforming not just how we play but also driving economic growth and innovation.
As Africa continues to ride this wave, the future of gaming here looks incredibly promising.
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