Young Workers Power South Africa’s Video Games Industry

Devlyn van der Walt dreamed of becoming a video game developer as a child. “During primary school, I’d create games out of paper, putting them in a ring binder and moving paper characters through the pages,” he recalls.

Although his hometown of Middelburg, located 100 miles east of Johannesburg, South Africa, wasn’t known for its video game industry, his passion led him to train as a software developer and learn game development.

His dedication paid off when he landed a job at Johannesburg-based 24 Bit Games, where he worked for just over a year. “I really enjoy the diverse and challenging work,” he says.

Mr. van der Walt is now part of South Africa’s burgeoning video games industry. Nicolina Visentin-E’Silva, studio manager at 24 Bit Games, proudly showcases their “wall of fame” at the company’s offices, highlighting projects like the locally-inspired Broforce and Cocoon, which was nominated for four Bafta Games Awards in 2023.

Ms. Visentin-E’Silva notes that the company and the industry have experienced significant growth. “Since I’ve been here, I’ve noticed an uptick in all things games.”

This expansion has caught the attention of international players; Californian publisher Annapurna Interactive acquired 24 Bit Games in November. A critical factor in this success is the growing number of junior-level staff, thanks to more university programs training future talent.

Additionally, Ms. Visentin-E’Silva attributes part of their success to the unique local culture, which fosters creativity, adaptability, and a strong work ethic. ‘South Africans are a different breed,’ she laughs. ‘We’re incredibly adaptable. We get the job done, and we do it professionally.’

Arabella Rogerson, marketing manager at Sea Monster’s games studio, confirms this sentiment. She notes that South African developers are adept at creating games for both local and international audiences.

Additionally, the relatively lower costs of hiring developers in South Africa make it an appealing option compared to other parts of the world.

“It’s like all eyes are on Africa as the next big creative frontier, which is an exciting position to be in,” she says.

Despite these opportunities, the South African video game industry remains relatively small. In September 2022, the South African Cultural Observatory reviewed the sector and found it to be in its early stages, with around 50 studios, many of which were under ten years old and not generating substantial income from game production.

Despite the current small scale of the South African video game industry, there is a clear potential for significant growth. The review by the South African Cultural Observatory in September 2022 suggested that the industry’s growth potential lies in premium PC games, likely to attract international players. This potential for growth is not just a prediction, but a reason for the audience to feel optimistic and excited about the future of the industry.

The lower cost of living in South Africa offers a competitive edge in the global market. A study by Tshimologong, a technology development hub associated with the University of the Witwatersrand,

identified approximately 60 active studios. However, many are small, often consisting of just one or two people, with a few larger studios driving the sector’s growth.

Erik Prinz is just starting his journey in video game design, joining the local developer Nyamakop in 2022. In high school, he was thrilled to discover a magazine article about a game design course at the University of the Witwatersrand.

“I was amazed that such a program existed in South Africa,” he recalls. Alongside his best friend, Rodwin Malinga, Prinz pursued undergraduate and Master’s degrees in game design at the university. Both eventually landed roles at Nyamakop.

Although Mr. Malinga acknowledges the South African industry’s current small scale, he remains hopeful about its future growth.

While progress might appear slow, there is a strong belief that once these new projects, teams, and companies come to light, we’ll witness a significant surge of South African content in the industry, potentially leading to more international recognition and a larger share of the global gaming market.

Chris Beer, an analyst at GWI, highlights that South Africa is producing a new generation of game developers and emerging as a significant market for games. “South Africans are avid gamers, showing a higher engagement with the three major gaming platforms—smartphones, PCs, and game consoles than the global average.”

There is particular interest in sports-related games, such as racing and fighting games, and South Africans are notably the most frequent global users of gambling and betting apps.

The local gaming and digital entertainment expo, rAge, has experienced consistent growth over the past two decades, attracting a diverse audience.

“Today, rAge features a truly varied cross-section of South Africa, representing all ages, races, and genders,” says rAge project director Michael James. He notes that many enthusiasts who initially attended the event have returned as game developers.

Esports commentator Sam Wright, a prominent figure in competitive gaming, highlights the industry’s challenges. “We have a significant gap in audience development because many young people I speak with can’t afford gaming due to the high cost of internet data and technology.”

She points out that data costs in South Africa are higher compared to other regions. The industry’s shift toward digital products and subscriptions rather than

physical game copies exacerbates the cost issue. “We have an active base of smartphone users, but getting online remains prohibitively expensive for them,” she adds.