Africa is at the forefront of the global expansion of an industry worth billions of dollars — mobile gaming. Mobile has become a legitimate platform for gaming, with many PC and console classics making a successful transition to the smaller screen, as well as many successful mobile-only games, such as Angry Birds, now a global franchise.
As the cost of high-tech mobile devices drops, developing countries are amongst the fastest-growing markets for mobile gaming, with youthful populations and a higher ratio of mobile usage compared to computers. But the mobile revolution in Africa stretches beyond mere gaming, bringing with it a new digital infrastructure that is affecting many aspects of life. Let’s have a look.
Increasing mobile usage
As smartphones become more affordable we’ve seen increasing mobile penetration in Sub-Saharan Africa. With it has come a necessary boost in mobile-first infrastructure — many countries were left behind in the analogue/landline/desktop computer boom, especially rural and remote areas of poorer countries.
But, many Africans who didn’t have access to landlines or computers now have powerful mobile devices and access to high-speed 4G internet coverage, with 5G being implemented in some areas already.
Mobile gaming in Africa
Couple these things with a young, tech-savvy population and you have a tinderbox for a full mobile revolution, and it’s already in motion. The mobile gaming industry in Africa is growing rapidly, and should hit a value of $1bn this year, according to projections. Here are some of the games Africans are loving.
Online casinos
A major part of the mobile gaming boom is the rise of online casinos, another industry sector rapidly expanding across Sub-Saharan Africa. Nigeria and South Africa have long dominated the market, and many Africans across the region can today enjoy their favourite mobile casino games on the go.
Ever-improving smartphones can handle traditional casino games and their variations, including live-dealer poker and blackjack, live-croupier roulette, and of course, slot games which grow ever more advanced and immersive thanks to cutting-edge graphics and gameplay.
Puzzles and Sims
Just like the rest of the world, Candy Crush Saga consistently tops the rankings of online puzzlers, with bright, vibrant graphics and dynamic gameplay. Other puzzle games popular in Africa include Fill The Fridge and Shoot Bubble.
The Sims and SimCity: Build It are evergreen classics, and perfectly suited to mobile. But there are other great-looking games such as Mini Metro, which allows users to build their own underground city subway.
FPSs and battle royale
Call of Duty Mobile continues to dominate the first-person shooter genre across the world, and its popularity is matched in Africa, with millions joining in the action. But other titles such as Dead Effect 2 and Combat Master are also popular on the continent.
Battle Royale games are a hectic and engaging way to make the most of mobile gaming. Major titles such as Fortnite, Dota 2, and Counter-Strike have all made their way successfully onto the small screens.
Sports and racing
It’s no secret that Africa is a sports-mad nation, and therefore no surprise that games such as FIFA and NBA 2K Mobile are just as popular on the platform as they are on consoles and PCs.
Racing games are also well received, with F1 Mobile Racing receiving many downloads, and while Gran Turismo itself doesn’t have a stand-alone app, there are plenty of other high-octane options for fans of four wheels.
Beyond gaming
But there are plenty of other ways mobile penetration is positively impacting the lives of Africans and the economies of their nations. The proliferation of powerful smartphones and tablets and widespread high-speed internet is also driving an increase in innovative, independent businesses, that can run their startups via mobile alone.
Education is another area seeing huge benefits. With access to vast swathes of material online, students can work more effectively, and teachers have access to resources previously unavailable, as well as tablets for pupils and students to use. This is incredibly important on a continent that has such a young population. Online banking, healthcare (apps and cameras are being developed so that doctors can diagnose patients via mobile), finance — all these areas of life are being transformed by Africa’s mobile revolution.
Mobile is opening up great opportunities for those all across Africa. From great gaming experiences to educational resources, Africa’s digital future certainly looks bright.