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The global gaming market has spread its wings wide in 2024, casting a long shadow on nearly all parts of the world.
It’s speculated that currently, the video gaming market alone is worth 282.3 billion US dollars. This trend of gaming is rapidly growing and one of the countries that has been brought under its craze is the continent of Africa.
It’s estimated that out of the 1.5 billion people living there, the median age is 20-21 years old, which explains the growth of gaming as it attracts younger audiences greatly. Additionally, with each year seeing the release of better computer and mobile hardware, along with improved internet speeds, it’s easy to see the intrigue of gaming.
African people are not mere gamers; they are also involved in game development. Many popular titles have been released by studios operating there.
Additionally, many African streamers are also superstars there, uploading live gaming footage on platforms like Twitch and YouTube.
Gaming tournaments are also becoming mainstream in the continent, one of which was the GAMR X. The 2024 event saw thousands of participants from all over Africa compete.
Casino Games
The African casino market is diverse, with reports saying that it’s capable of growing further in 2024 and beyond.
Casino gaming categories include games like blackjack, roulette, and poker. Take Nigeria as an example, live dealer games are more popular there due to the interactive nature and the aspect of real-time gameplay. Kenya, on the other hand, prefers mobile devices for casino gaming because of the availability of the internet and increasingly affordable mobiles.
This trend of casino games can also be attributed to societal and cultural influences. Whether the casinos are physical or online in nature, social interactions are increased and many gamers prefer playing with others rather than alone.
If we compare Africa with the rest of the globe in terms of casino games, we get interesting statistics. For instance, the total number of players is expected to reach 5 million by 2029 in Africa but in that same time frame, the US player count will be much bigger, reportedly. As the continent becomes more technologically advanced, the trend of casino games may increase to greater heights.
Mobile Games
According to conducted surveys, the vast majority of Africa’s gaming population preferred gaming on their smartphones, with the majority sticking to the Android market. Here, several categories dominate and the battle royale genre is the most popular. With titles like Call of Duty Mobile and PUBG Mobile winning the hearts of gamers across the continent.
Strategic mobile games like Clash of Clans and Clash Royale where tactics are needed to win PvP matches are also enjoyed. These trends of mobile gaming are because of the accessibility of such devices and the fact of portability. The combination of low cost and ease of access is appealing to most of the population.
ESports Games
These refer to competitive video games that pitch individual players or teams against each other to see who comes out on top. The market for such games is explosive, with predictions stating it to reach 9.29 billion USD by 2032.
In African markets, games like League of Legends and Dota 2 are widely enjoyed among gamers as well as FPS titles like Counter-Strike. Countries in the continent like Namibia have dedicated leagues that hold Esports tournaments and allow players from all over to put their skills to the test.
The popularity of esports has much to do with the fact that gamers are naturally competitive, vying for top sports. Also, major esports tournaments give cash prizes and recognition to winners.
Role-Playing Games
When it comes to RPGs, they are one of the top-played genres worldwide, and similarly, their popularity spans across countries in Africa. Across the globe, big-name RPGs are more in demand, but as stated before, African countries prefer mobile devices to consoles and so mobile-based role-playing games stand out there.
Gamers also gather together for RPGs like Dungeons & Dragons joining dedicated groups of players who seek like-minded fans. These were mostly hailing from South Africa and featured table-top RPGs.
The role-playing genre in Africa attracts players in their mid-20s as seen by one consumer survey conducted in Ghana, with an audience size of 500,000 plus.
Conclusion
The African gaming scene is rich and diverse, with fans enjoying a variety of genres. However, preferences towards mobile devices are seen in greater numbers as compared to traditional consoles and PCs.
This may limit the kind of experiences audiences can get. As new games are released and tech reaches new players, we may yet see shifts in this perspective. Moreover, as new devices come along like the famous Apple Vision Pro, it is very possible to witness the emergence of new trends and customer preferences, which will happen not only in the African continent but globally.
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