Africa’s 406 million gamers are triggering a race to build the business around them

What the report says

Africa’s gaming sector is expanding quickly, and The Independent Uganda, citing a Bird Agency special report, says the continent’s market is growing faster than the global industry as studios, payments firms and esports organisers build services around a large and still under-monetised player base. The report says Africa has about 406.25 million gamers in 2026, with market revenue estimated at US$1.98 billion and mobile gaming making up most of that total.

The article says the business opportunity is drawing more attention to infrastructure that can help developers and publishers earn money across fragmented markets. It highlights payment tools such as Carry1st’s Pay1st platform, which supports more than 200 local payment methods, and notes that mobile money, banks and fintechs are becoming more involved in gaming transactions. It also points to growing interest in game development, with Nigeria sending a national delegation to Gamescom in Cologne and using the event to promote local studios and intellectual property.

Esports is another area of growth, with competitions such as the Carry1st Africa Cup and PUBG Mobile Africa Esports Championship creating more formal routes for players and teams. The report also mentions Kenya’s emergence as a regional hub, along with prize pools, sponsorships and hardware partnerships that are helping build a wider commercial ecosystem. More broadly, the piece says Africa’s large audience still accounts for less than 1% of global gaming revenue, underscoring the gap between player numbers and spending while pointing to future potential for studios, investors and event organisers.