The South African gaming market is experiencing rapid growth, driven primarily by mobile connectivity. According to Mettlestate, a local video game specialist, out of the 26- to 30-million gamers in South Africa, about 90% access games via mobile devices. This shift has democratized access, allowing anyone with a smartphone to participate in popular titles such as Fortnite, Call of Duty Mobile, or PUBG Mobile.
The African gaming market is expanding rapidly, with an estimated 350- to 400-million gamers across the continent. Mettlestate's founder and MD, Barry Louzada, attributes the growth to the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to publishers moving their games to mobile devices, making them more accessible to a wider audience. This move has created new opportunities for South African companies to get involved in the fast-growing gaming market.
Local games developer Sea Monster projects the country's gaming market to grow from $266m (R4.3bn) in 2023 to $333m (R5.4bn) by the end of 2026, making South Africa the largest gaming market in Africa by revenue. The company estimates that mobile represents about 91% of total player spending, with 22- to 23-million mobile gamers in the country.
Despite the big, highly engaged audience, traditional corporate investment in South African gaming remains underdeveloped compared to global markets. Louzada believes that the dedication fans show to traditional sports mirrors the passion found in the gaming community, making both highly viable commercial audiences. He aims to bridge the gap between brands and the gaming audience, showing corporations the value of investing in this digital playground.
Mettlestate is pushing to legitimize gaming as a sport and as a potential career path. The company has established a series of tournament hubs in townships, facilitates activations for brands, and awards university bursaries for tournament winners. This plan aims to foster an ecosystem around gaming in the country, similar to that of football, cricket, or rugby.
The demographic of a "gamer" has broadened to include all walks of life, breaking stereotypes. Louzada notes that the industry offers "robust career paths" beyond professional playing, including finance teams, project managers, developers, graphic designers, and AV technicians. Gaming is also framed as a tool for teaching problem-solving and basic digital financial literacy.
Legacy gaming gatherings and conventions are shifting from trade show formats to fully immersive lifestyle festivals. Mettlestate's involvement in the rAge gaming expo aims to reshape the annual gathering to encompass music, anime, and broader pop culture, transforming it into an "inclusive, experiential event" rather than a standard exhibition. In 2022, Carry1st, a South African-based mobile games publisher, raised more than R300m in a funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz.
Key points
- The South African gaming market is expected to grow from $266m (R4.3bn) in 2023 to $333m (R5.4bn) by the end of 2026.
- Mobile devices account for 90% of gaming access in South Africa.
- The gaming industry offers robust career paths beyond professional playing, including finance, project management, development, and design.
