Africa’s Gaming Market Could Hit $2.39 billion in 2025
Mobile gaming is the biggest driver of this growth.
Not too long ago, if you mentioned gaming in Africa, most people would assume it was just a small, casual pastime—something a handful of people did in internet cafés or on outdated consoles. Fast forward to today, and the gaming scene has completely flipped. Africa is no longer just playing games; it’s becoming a major force in the industry.
In 2024, Africa’s gaming market hit $1.8 billion, marking a 12.4% year-over-year growth, while global gaming grew at just 2.1%, according to a report by Carry1st and Newzoo. And this is only the beginning. Projections suggest that by 2025, the market will reach $2.39 billion, and by 2030, it could surpass $4 billion, per Mordor Intelligence.
At the heart of this growth is mobile gaming. Affordable smartphones, expanding internet access, and the rise of digital payment solutions have made gaming accessible to millions more people. Mobile gaming now accounts for $1.6 billion of the total $1.8 billion market, per Carry1st’s 2024 analysis. The number of gamers keeps rising too—32 million new players joined in 2024 alone, bringing the total to 349 million, with 87% (304 million) playing on mobile.
Some countries are leading the charge in revenue, with Egypt pulling in $368M, Nigeria at $300M, and South Africa close behind with $278M, according to Carry1st data. Meanwhile, Eritrea and Niger are among the fastest-growing gaming markets.
Meanwhile, these shifts aren’t going unnoticed. Big-name gaming companies like Tencent Games and other industry giants are investing in Africa, setting up regional headquarters, and working with local developers. At the same time, homegrown studios are creating games that reflect African culture and storytelling, making them even more appealing to local players.
Then, there’s the continent’s youth-driven market. With 77% of Africa’s population under 35, gaming isn’t just entertainment—it’s part of everyday life. And the infrastructure is catching up fast. By 2025, an estimated 475 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa will be mobile users, with 4G adoption rising and 5G starting to roll out, per GSMA data. Cloud gaming and faster internet speeds will only push things further.
For years, Africa wasn’t really on the radar when it came to gaming. Now, it’s one of the fastest-growing markets in the world.
Although Africa’s gaming revenue is still a fraction of the $184.3 billion global gaming market per data by Best of Gaming, the rapid growth suggests this is just the beginning. With increasing smartphone adoption, better internet access, and rising investment, Africa is on track to become a major player in the industry. If these trends continue, the continent’s gaming market could soon command a much larger share of the global stage.
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