Africa’s thriving gaming industry got a major boost as Africacomicade celebrated innovation and collaboration with a $42,000 prize and development fund during the 2025 Ark Pitch in Lagos, part of the sixth edition of Gamathon.
The event brought together game developers, investors, and publishers from across the continent, with winners sharing a $2,000 cash prize pool and gaining access to a $40,000 development fund for Android games.
EMedia Interactive emerged winner in the PC category, while Veh Veh Studios topped the mobile segment. In a further milestone for African game development, Nigerian studio The Fefactor clinched a publishing deal with Acclaim Inc. for its upcoming title TossDown.
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Oluwatosin Ogunyebi, Africacomicade’s co-founder, said the initiative’s primary goal is to connect creators and investors across the continent. “We’ve toured Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa to unite African creatives under one strong community,” he said.
The week-long Gamathon featured workshops on virtual and augmented reality, panels highlighting women in gaming, and networking tours linking studios across cities. Ogunyebi noted that the growing collaboration among developers was one of the platform’s biggest achievements. “When we started five years ago, few developers even knew each other. Now, they co-create and collaborate — that’s our biggest win,” he said.
Industry experts at the event commended the progress but stressed the need for stronger government and policy support. Edu Shola, founder of Deluxe Studios, said African developers are still “over-mentored and under-funded,” adding that plans are underway to establish a Game Developers Association of Nigeria to give the sector a unified voice.
Co-founder Douglas Ogeto highlighted that improved internet access and mobile connectivity have made gaming “more inclusive than ever,” while discussions also explored how storytelling in games can reshape Africa’s global image.
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Victor Mark-Onyegbu of Africa No Filter urged creators to focus on narratives that portray innovation and resilience. His organisation’s Bias Booster and MAPS Campaign initiatives support artists in identifying and correcting harmful stereotypes.
Looking ahead, Africacomicade announced that Gamathon will become a biennial event, allowing developers more time to create world-class titles before the next edition in 2027.
“We’re building more than games,” Ogunyebi said. “We’re building a collaborative future where African creativity and stories lead global conversations.”
