Where Are African Titles in Nigeria’s Gaming Boom?

The message is clear: without better funding, distribution, and support, African-made titles will remain invisible in their own market, writes Iyke Bede

A new Analytics for Africa (A4A) study of Nigeria’s secondary video gaming market reveals a stark divide: while blockbuster franchises such as ‘God of War’ and ‘FIFA’ dominate resale platforms, collectively accounting for 61% of used game listings and 43% of new game listings in Nigeria’s secondary market—African-developed titles barely register. The data suggests a market shaped by global supply chains rather than local demand, even as informal sellers (70 per cent of the trade) fuel a thriving ecosystem for new and used consoles.

Another stark contrast it reveals is the geographic disparities that exist, where Lagos State (Southwest) leads, accounting for 89 per cent of new game sales by value and 76 per cent of used sales, reflecting its dominance in Nigeria’s digital universe. This data, however, does not confirm if sales made in the Southwest are reflective of demand in Lagos or a case of unavailability of retailers in other states. What it does reveal, however, is minimal video gaming activity in the northern region, save for Abuja, which accounts for six per cent (new) and 12 per cent (used) sales.

Experts opine that several factors, such as lower disposable income, infrastructure gaps, and cultural preferences characteristic of the region, could also account for these low figures.

Across the board (old and new), PlayStation consoles dominate, with PS4 remaining the popular choice regardless of PS5’s launch in 2020. For now, PS4s are more affordable in light of recent FX spikes. Additionally, there is a larger catalogue of affordable pre-owned PS4 games compared to the limited selection of PS5 titles. For brand new sales, PS5 commands 53 per cent of sales across all games, followed by 23 per cent for PS4. In reversed roles, PS4 holds a 53 per cent share in used sales. Here, PS5 manages a 15 per cent share.

With a growing video games sector, Nigerian developers have yet to strike gold with console games development. African titles are largely and conspicuously absent. Yet, global franchises like ‘Call of Duty,’ ‘Assassin’s Creed,’ ‘GTA,’ and ‘FIFA’ lead, aligning with global trends. The lack of African IPs, such as ‘Aurion: Legacy of the KoriOdan’, vividly exposes the underfunding of local developers and the scarcity of distribution channels, further underscored by the thriving secondary market for consoles and titles, where peer-to-peer sales dominate. Other influencing factors include consumer biases towards established franchises and genres (the action-adventure genre is most favoured at 45 per cent), offline playability, and cultural resonance favouring sports games.

Furthermore, the report reveals how gaming consoles hold their value in Nigeria’s secondary market: PlayStations retain about 70–80 per cent of their original price even after years of use, while Meta Quests, a line of virtual reality (VR) headsets developed by Meta Platforms, plummet to 50–60 per cent within months. This disparity explains why 70 per cent of Nigerian resellers prioritize consoles, especially PlayStations, as slower depreciation makes them safer investments.

For policymakers, these numbers point to gaps in access and infrastructure that need to be addressed if gaming is to grow beyond Lagos. For investors, the strong resale value of PlayStations shows where the money is now, but it also hints at the opportunities being missed in local content. For developers, the message is clear: without better funding, distribution, and support, African-made titles will remain invisible in their own market.