Xbox Games seeks to drive accelerated growth of Africa’s video game industry

The recently concluded 2024 Xbox Game Camp Africa marked a significant milestone in the development of Africa’s gaming industry, highlighting the industry’s potential for growth.

The two-day hybrid event hosted physically in Johannesburg, South Africa, Casablanca, Morocco, and Nairobi, Kenya, brought together industry experts from Xbox, aspiring game developers, and gaming enthusiasts from across the continent to foster innovation and collaboration.

In Nairobi, the event was hosted at the Microsoft Africa Development Centre, offering participants a series of hands-on workshops covering various aspects of game development, including design, storytelling, brand building, and marketing.

Speaking in Nairobi, Temi Afolabi, the Xbox Global Expansion Team (GXT) Lead for Africa and Middle East said: “The Xbox Game Camp Africa represents a pivotal moment for us at Xbox. It’s not just about coming to Africa; it’s about immersing ourselves in the incredible talent here and figuring out how we can truly make a difference. Leveraging our extensive industry experience, this initiative is our commitment to paying it forward—empowering individuals and equipping them with the tools and knowledge they need to excel in the gaming industry.”

According to estimates, Africa’s video game industry is expected to reach USD 1 billion in revenue for the first time this year, up from USD 862 million in 2022, demonstrating a robust growth trajectory that will reverse the global trend of declining video game activity. The Xbox Game Camp Africa aimed to capitalise on this growth by supporting talent development, providing support, and inspiring the next generation of African game developers.

On her part, Irene Githinji, Education Engagements Lead at Microsoft ADC, emphasised the importance of skills development and training in the industry, saying: "The Xbox Game Camp offers a great opportunity for us to meet up with the Xbox team as well as game developers and see what we can do together in the space. We get to see the talent that is budding in the gaming industry and begin designing skilling initiatives that will support the growth of the industry. Also, with different countries taking part in the camp, we try to understand their pain points and begin to curate programs and projects that align with the industry needs.”

Speaking at the same event, Melissa Boone, Principal Xbox Research Manager and Chief of Staff at 343 Industries, a part of Xbox Game Studios, said: “Africa’s gaming industry is on the cusp of something truly remarkable. The creativity and passion we’ve witnessed here are impressive. At Xbox, we believe in the power of games to bring people together and inspire change. Our commitment is to support the talented developers and help them turn their innovative ideas into reality.”

While presenting a huge opportunity, African gamers are still faced with significant challenges. Further, according to the Africa Games Developer Survey, around 63 percent of local game developers have five years of development experience or less. Additionally, African gaming professionals struggle to develop financially viable careers, with just 19 percent ever having secured external investment for any of their past projects.

“The growth of Africa’s video game industry is not just an opportunity for local developers but for the global gaming community. By collaborating and sharing resources, we can accelerate this growth and create a vibrant ecosystem that benefits everyone involved,” said Esteban Lora, a gaming technology and music supervision specialist at Xbox Game Studios.

The Nairobi edition of the camp included meetings with various game development studios who pitched their projects to receive support from the Xbox Global Expansion Team.

Some of the projects presented included "Tingish" and "Finke Desert Race" by Arkitech Studios, who won The Fak’ugesi Festival Awards in 2022, an African first awards in video gaming, animation, XR (VR and AR), digital art, and music.

Founded in 2020, the Xbox Game Camp is held in different regions globally and features inspiring keynotes from prominent figures in the gaming industry, including renowned game developers and Xbox executives, who share their insights on the future of the industry.