- Teddy Kossoko launched the game studio in 2018 and initially placed its suit of pan-African games in the Google Play Store.
- The French Embassy in Senegal announced its investment of $328,497(€300,000) to build a new gaming hub at the heart of Dakar.
- In West Africa, Nigeria is among the top competitors dominating Africa’s gaming industry.
Africa’s digital transformation has recently propelled the flames of a growing economic sector; its gaming industry. Senegal recently became one of its top pioneers as its French Embassy partnered with the Masseka game studio to establish a new gaming hub.
With this new partnership, the billion-dollar industry gains yet another ally. Furthermore, it uses the continent’s most valued natural resource; human capital. As such, Senegal will finally gear up to potentially compete with its sister nation Nigeria for dominance in Africa’s gaming industry.
Masseka game studio pioneers for Senegal gaming hub
In two decades, Africa has witnessed one of the world’s rapid digital adoption rates. New technology has opened up doors never seen before in Africa. The fourth industrial revolution has ushered in a new era of innovations ranging from its financing industry to agriculture. Thus not many were surprised when Africa’s gaming Industry gained much popularity; especially in West Africa.
At the beginning of June, at the Vivatech Conference in Paris, the French Embassy in Senegal announced its investment of $328,497(€300,000) to build a new gaming hub at the heart of Dakar. This new Senegal gaming hub is a collaboration between two Africa-focused game producers; Masseka game studio and Kayfo Studio. Signifying this agreement, they made it before the presence of the Vice-President of Occitanie Region Jalil Benabdillah, representatives of the DER and several media platforms such as Forbes Afrique.
With the rapid growth of Africa’s gaming industry, establishing a Senegal gaming hub will ensure the country solidifies its position. According to the agreement, both gaming studios will assist in the recruitment of local talent and in building a sustainable business model. Teddy Kossoko, president of the Masseka game studio, said, “Maybe this will lead to a joint venture between Masseka and Kayfo. We’re focusing on what will make the project a success and ensure continuity when the funding ends.”
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In truth, Africa’s gaming industry is just as competitive since it is a new market. Teddy stated that they will concentrate on recruiting the best young individuals t produce local and international content. This will ensure the longevity of the Senegal gaming hub.
The partnership will focus on acquiring its staff from Africa to promote and ensure the expansion of this industry. They have invited game developers throughout Senegal and Africa to train at the Senegal gaming hub in September. In addition, those invited will receive a salary throughout the training period.
Senegal’s gaming hub is the fruit of adaptation.
Initially, many throughout the world thought that Africa was still developing due to its inability to adopt new technology. Unfortunately, this is far from the truth, the basis of this norm revolves around how Africa has missed out on the previous three industrial revolutions.
However, it is due to this fact that Africa has gained such a steep lead in the current technological revolutions. Africa’s gaming industry and other emerging sectors like fintech and Agritech, are a by-product of Africa’s ability to absorb new technology.
In West Africa, Nigeria is among the top competitors dominating Africa’s gaming industry. The growth of Play-To-Earn games has revolutionized how we view ordinary games today. The region has had several E-sport tournaments that have significantly inspired Senegalese to take up this new economic activity. This new Senegal gaming hub came after the country held several Esports tournaments.
Read: African gaming industry generates US$590 million in revenues.
In 2022, Senegal hosted a tournament that led 400 esports enthusiasts to participate. Despite the relatively low prize money, it united the gamers within the country and spoke volumes about its potential. According to Cheikh Thiaw, a Senegalese professional gamer, the Esports tournament held opened new opportunities and competition for the young gamer.
Today, Senegal is home to over 20,000 competitive video game players. The country’s main gamers association, the Sengames stated that the country has exceptional talent when participating in the ESport tournament. Unfortunately, it only lacks the opportunity to shine. Mamoudou Soumare, deputy director of the SOLO Esport club added, “More and more young amateur gamers want to become professionals.”
Also read: African gaming industry generates US$590 million in revenues
About Masseka game studio
Masseka game studio is among the few game-developing organizations based in Africa for Africa. Teddy Kossoko launched the game studio in 2018 and initially placed its suit of pan-African games in the Google Play Store. At the time, Africa’s gaming Industry was still roughly new, but fortunately, it gained over 10000 users earning a relatively active user base.
Unfortunately, later on, Teddy discovered that hosting games within Google playStore was too cumbersome. Thus he and his team developed an app store to specifically cater to African users. Their new app store caters mainly to Android Phones and has an 80% usage rate within the continent.
Also read: Africa’s Position in the Gaming Market
Masseka Game Studio also offers a revenue-sharing model for creators who develop and sell mobile applications within their app store; Gara Store. Masseka games earns a 10% proft on vames sold. Content creators acquire at least 80% of the earning to ensure a fair working ecosystem among its users and staff. This provided a profitable angle for the gaming studio, thus giving it an edge over its competition.
With this new partnership with the French Embassy of Senegal, Masseka game studio might pioneer a substantial milestone for Africa’s gaming Industry. If they complete the Senegal gaming hub, the country might outshine Nigeria, Kenya and other top competitors and dominate the industry.
