Mobile-first strategy and cloud gaming investments poised to propel continent’s video gaming market revenues to $4.1 billion by 2031, a new industry survey shows.
Smartphones generated 61.15% of Africa’s gaming market revenue in 2025, a share analysts expect to sustain through the forecast period.
Smartphone shipments rose 6% year-on-year to 19.4 million units in the first quarter of 2025, with North Africa recording 34% growth rate.

Africa’s gaming market is entering a phase of rapid expansion, with revenues projected to reach $4.10 billion by 2031, according to industry analysis. The continent’s gaming market, valued at $2.04 billion in 2025, is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 12.32 per cent over the forecast period, which is approximately six times the global industry average.

According to the Africa Gaming – Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2026-2031), the figures underscore a fundamental shift in how global entertainment companies view Africa. This is no longer as a peripheral market, but as a vital growth frontier as traditional Western and Asian gaming territories evolve into maturity.

Africa’s gaming market: Mobile dominance drives mass adoption

Mobile gaming remains the undisputed foundation of Africa’s gaming economy, with more than 95 per cent of the continent’s estimated 349 million gamers playing on smartphones. Smartphone shipments rose 6 per cent year-on-year to 19.4 million units in the first quarter of 2025, with North Africa recording a remarkable 34 per cent growth rate.

Handset manufacturer TRANSSION continues to command a 47 per cent market share, reflecting its mastery of entry-level pricing that aligns with local income levels. Approximately 85 per cent of smartphone shipments are now 4G-enabled, expanding consumer access to multiplayer games, live services and data-intensive titles.

Smartphones generated 61.15 per cent of Africa’s gaming revenue in 2025, a share analysts expect to sustain through the forecast period. The proliferation of mobile-money services and fintech-enabled micro-transactions is improving monetisation by making subscriptions and in-app purchases more accessible to consumers who lack traditional banking relationships.

Cloud gaming emerges as fastest-growing segment

Cloud gaming is projected to expand at a 13.72 per cent compound annual growth rate, making it the market’s fastest-growing platform segment. Investment in hyperscale data centres, edge infrastructure and faster networks is enabling players to access premium gaming experiences without purchasing imported consoles or high-end computers, a significant advantage on a continent where hardware costs pose a major barrier to entry.

Kenya leads growth with a 12.96 per cent CAGR forecast through 2031, supported by advanced mobile-money ecosystems and new cloud infrastructure. Telecommunications and digital entertainment bundles combining gaming subscriptions with connectivity plans are expected to accelerate adoption, while edge caching promises to reduce latency for competitive gamers.

Tariffs and infrastructure gaps remain constraints

Despite the optimistic outlook, structural barriers continue to fragment regional demand. Import tariffs, taxation and currency pressures limit console and PC gaming adoption across the continent. In Kenya, a 25 per cent import duty combined with 16 per cent value-added tax places consoles beyond the reach of many consumers. South Africa applies no import duty to consoles but maintains a 15 per cent value-added tax, illustrating the regulatory disparities that prevent a unified continental market.

High hardware costs also restrict the expansion of gaming cafes and esports venues, directing consumers toward smartphones and cloud gaming services and reinforcing Africa’s transition away from traditional console-led growth. Electricity reliability remains another challenge, particularly for data centres and venues requiring uninterrupted power.

Divergent import tariffs and inconsistent intellectual property enforcement are estimated to reduce the sector’s growth rate by approximately 2.1 percentage points.

Localisation and esports gain momentum

Localisation has become an important growth strategy for game developers and publishers operating in Africa. Research indicates that 76 per cent of consumers prefer digital experiences in their native language, highlighting the value of French, Arabic, Swahili and other regional language options.

Disney’s collaboration with Nigeria-based Maliyo Games for the “Iwájú” mobile tie-in demonstrates growing international interest in African storytelling and creative talent. Cameroon’s Kiro’o Games, which raised $305,000 through equity crowdfunding to develop “Aurion: Legacy of the Kori-Odan”, illustrates the commercial potential of culturally grounded titles featuring hand-drawn art and indigenous languages.

Action and adventure games accounted for 33.05 per cent of market revenue in 2025, supported by accessible controls and culturally relevant narratives. Multiplayer online battle arena games are forecast to grow at a 13.28 per cent compound annual rate, with the introduction of a dedicated League of Legends server in March 2025 reducing latency barriers and strengthening the outlook for competitive gaming.

Investment gaps threaten studio sustainability

Despite the headline growth figures, significant challenges remain for African game developers. According to the Africa Games Industry Report 2025, 85 per cent of African game studios earn less than $100,000 annually.

Payment friction continues to hamper monetisation, with approximately 90 per cent of African gamers lacking access to credit cards or app store credit. Nigeria’s credit card penetration sits at around 3.5 per cent, while Egypt sees fewer than 10 per cent of adults actively using digital payments.

Industry observers note that substantial capital investment is needed across the ecosystem, with game production costs comparable to movie production. African-led venture capital investment has been identified as particularly important to support local builders and culturally inspired content.

The Africa gaming market is entering a period of sustained expansion shaped by mobile accessibility, cloud technology, local storytelling, digital payments and esports development. Although infrastructure reliability and hardware affordability remain challenges, the continent’s young population, with a median age below 20, and improving connectivity provide a strong foundation for growth through 2031.