South Africa is currently the second-largest gaming market on the continent, behind Egypt. South Africans play more and more as the country develops, and it’s not only video games but also online casinos since the NGB (National Gambling Board) licensed some of them.
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The gaming sector of South Africa is forecasted for a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth) of 12% between 2021 and 2026. The market is not as developed as the U.S market yet. However, it’s growing to be a very different market, and the most played video games may surprise you.
South Africans’ Favorite Gaming Platforms
A big part of gaming in South Africa happens on consoles, and when it comes to consoles, there are two names to know: Sony and Microsoft. In September 2021, Sony’s Playstation 5 represented 55.16% of the market share, leaving 44.84% to the Xbox. This means Nintendo consoles are not the go-to for South African players. However, one of their games sold very well this year.
However, the fastest growing support is the mobile market. The market is projected to grow by 15% by 2026. The habits of the new generation partially explain this phenomenon, even in schools, these mobile devices are used for learning purposes. It’s more difficult to evaluate since the majority of games are free.
The 5 Most Played Games of 2021
Online games currently hold a big part of the market; this is not uncommon since online gaming has had exponential growth since the seventh generation of consoles in 2005.
5. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege
After a rocky launch in 2015, Ubisoft’s online tactical shooter came back strong after many updates to correct bugs, gameplay shortcomings, and implement new content. This was a smart move on Ubisoft’s part since it allowed this game to become one of the most played multiplayer games in recent years.
The concept of the game is fairly simple: two squads of players, one defending and the other one attacking in a hostage situation. However, the gameplay reveals its full potential in action. Defenders can set traps and install cameras to guard their spots. Attackers can enter from several points in the house, and team communication is essential.
The game is tense as each bullet can be lethal, and it makes for a fun and highly competitive game session.
4. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury
Nintendo’s Italian plumber is one of the most famous video game characters, and even non-gamers know Mario and his friends. This new addition to the series brings its fair share of new features while keeping the DNA of the previous entries intact.
This new release significantly improves multiplayer mode, which was always too rudimental for players to really engage with. Nintendo tried to improve on the performances of this mode even if it still can’t compare to what the competition offers.
However, the light-hearted universe is still a joy to experience. Outside the solo adventure, players can partake in various challenges together or against each other and even create their unique maps and submit them to the community.
3. Call Of Duty: Black Ops – Cold War
The Call of Duty (COD) series has been a staple of the first-person shooter (FPS) genre for over a decade. Cold War, like the others before it, offers a bombastic military shooter set during the Cold War. However, it’s not the campaign mode that gets players invested but rather the multiplayer, especially the Warzone mode.
Warzone is a free-to-play battle royale. For those who don’t know what battle royale is, the concept is simple: a hundred players in teams of four are dropped by a plane on a gigantic map with a weak base weapon. The goal of the game is to eliminate the other teams to be the last ones standing. To do so, players have to search the environment for weapons, protection, and health items while staying in the designated safe zone. This zone will progressively shrink to force players to converge and fight.
Fortnite popularised this mode, and COD puts its spin on this formula with improved graphics and all the mechanics players know and love about the series.
2. Grand Theft Auto V
Rockstar’s game has been around since 2014, but its online mode is still one of the most played games in the world.
This massive open-world takes you to the fictional city of Los Santos (a spoof of Los Angeles) and the surrounding county, where you’re free to do whatever you want. From criminal activities like bank heists to wreaking havoc in the metropolis with an arsenal. The NRA’s (National Rifle Association) supporters can only dream of. GTA doesn’t need an introduction, and it has been infamous for its provocative content since the launch of the third release back in 2001.
However, the story mode is not what keeps most players hooked. After experimenting in GTA IV with multiplayer, Rockstar launched GTA Online shortly after GTA V. This mode offers possibilities few games have achieved. Players can play modes where they confront each other in deathmatches and races all over the map, but they have to win money to invest in the game’s real estate. Rockstar keeps the game fresh with regular content updates and special events, where players can participate to win more in-game items.
1. FIFA 21
It’s no secret, South Africa loves soccer (or football for 99% of the world except for the U.S.), so it’s not surprising that the most played game is the most advanced sports simulator currently available. EA’s game offers the most extensive roster of officially licensed teams and the likeness of big star players like Messi or Ronaldo with the most graphically advanced game on the market.
The series has dominated the sports simulation genre since the 2009 release, which improved every aspect of the game. They even managed to bury its Japanese competition, PES (Pro Evolution Soccer), which was the fan-favorite during the sixth generation era.
Besides graphics and official teams, the main attraction of FIFA is the FUT (Football Ultimate Team) mode. In this multiplayer mode, players compete against each other solo or in co-op with various modes. Players can also manage their teams and constitute unique teams regrouping the best football players in the world.
Conclusion
As the internet develops in South Africa, so does its gaming scene; while growing, it gathers more and more players. This is primarily thanks to multiplayer games. The most significant part of the market is dominated by console gaming, but the upcoming generation may shift it towards mobile gaming very soon.
Authoritative Sources:
https://www.statista.com/outlook/dmo/digital-media/video-games/south-africa#demographics
https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share/console/south-africa