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The Pan Africa Gaming Group (PAGG) reported last week that a survey on the African gaming market revealed that approximately 92% of players engage in gaming on their smartphones.
An earlier survey conducted by NewZoo predicted that the African gaming market is set to exceed $1 billion for the first time in 2024. This new survey by Geopoll and PAGG, which was unveiled at the Game Developers Conference, gathered insights from over 2,500 gamers across Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya, and South Africa, providing valuable information on player interests and behaviors.
The findings from the Geopoll/PAGG report complement the NewZoo forecast, offering a comprehensive view of the lively and rapidly growing gaming environment in Africa.
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Survey details
GeoPoll, a mobile-based research agency operating in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, collaborated with PAGG, the largest network of independent game development studios in Africa, to conduct this extensive survey. Together, they collected insights from gamers across Africa, showcasing key trends and preferences that are shaping the gaming industry.
The report indicated that 32% of respondents engage in gaming activities for three or more hours daily, emphasizing the strong interest in gaming among African players. Additionally, 62% of players have purchased games or made in-game transactions before.
Moreover, the report addresses crucial topics such as female representation in games, the significance of locally relevant game content, and African players’ attitudes towards violence in games. These insights offer a deeper understanding of the African gaming market’s nuanced dynamics and the preferences of its diverse player base.
In a statement, John Murunga, GeoPoll’s regional director for Africa, stated, “Our groundbreaking ‘Gaming in Africa Survey’ has uncovered intriguing trends that underscore the rapid growth and unique dynamics of the gaming sector in Africa. The insights from this survey not only highlight gaming’s widespread appeal as a form of entertainment but also shed light on the potential for gaming to become a powerful medium for cultural expression and community building in Africa.”
Why gaming in Africa matters
Africa is rapidly becoming the fastest-growing market in the gaming industry globally, driven by a growing population of digitally savvy youth and increasing smartphone penetration. The continent is poised to reshape the global gaming landscape.
Jay Shapiro, chairperson of PAGG, emphasized the importance of this data, stating, “The potential for growth in the African Gaming industry is undeniable. However, securing the investments required to achieve that growth, in the absence of solid market data, is rightly a struggle. This report demonstrates the true potential of the continent’s billion youth to discover, play, and purchase locally relevant games.”
