Nigerian Video Game Industry: A Goldmine Never Explored.
The major problem with IT industry in Africa can easily be related to little or no statistical data available for either appraisals or forecasting, which most of the hinder adequate planning.
In our very minds the video game culture might be dead and gone, but in actual truth, it has become more like a beautiful pool of gold left for only foreigners to savor. The lack of data for the video game consumption for Nigerian gamers actually made the sector almost impossible to assimilate. Though not complete lost, there are still one or two reliable data banks most from the top console and publisher companies that can always compliment the near non-existence factor.
Africa though still harbor 75% of the model's 3rd world country but believe it or not it has remained a major market concentration for western multinationals. According to Newzoo Global Games Market Report, African video game market has and expected to grow by 26.2% year-on-year growth. With total gaming population of 100.4 million who spends not less than $1.66 Billion annually which accounts for less than 3% of global revenue? This growth does not just base on one section of gaming; it extends its growth also to the mobile game section which has been tagged to remain the largest growing segment with a year-on-year revenue growth rate of 30% -60% in the coming year. This rapid growth can be attributed to the increasing number of smartphones and mobile internet users springing up on a daily basis.
According to Bulevur Games, the Middle East and Africa (MEA), a regional segment contributes $3.2 B to the global Game Market has just 5 countries their top performing in the region which generate more than 60% of all MEA gaming revenue. the countries include Turkey which has claimed the 16th position in largest games market worldwide chart with annual revenue of over $755 Million. Other countries that made it within the MEA gaming revenue. The countries other countries that made the list within the MEA segment chat include:
• Saudi Arabia – 2nd, revenue - $50.2 Million.
• Iran – 3rd, revenue - $270 Million.
• UAC – 4th, revenue - $249 Million.
• Nigeria – 5th, revenue - $18.2 Million.
Nigeria is ranking 5th at the MEA segment of Global Games Market with over $18Million annual revenue. Then the question is who makes all those monies? Who has been relishing this $1.66 Billion industry all this while without a whisper? The answer is somehow rhetorical; the console and publishing companies of course. Though judging from the economic situation in the country one can easily doubt the existence of video game community talk less of a high video games industry revenue, but thanks to the eagle eye of the companies that have looked beed beyond CNN one-sided-new documenties. And for Christ sake this guys gained a spot in the “happiest people in the world” top 10 ranking.
Source: bulevur.com
#BulevurGames