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INSIGHT
The South African video games market is expected to grow to $ 292m in 2023 , according to a local report . It appears to be an encouraging signal for potential investors who are hesitant to take a bold step into the industry in Africa .
Nodwin Gaming , an Indian licensor and creator of eSports properties , has launched operations in South Africa , with more offices to be opened in Nigeria and Kenya .
The young population and the popularity of the internet and smartphone technology on the continent should pave the way for the adoption and growth of eSports which could help the authorities in the fight against poverty , unemployment and idleness / crime , some observers have argued .
International eSports competitions are lacking African contestants , not because of the absence of skillful players but due to the above issues which have hampered the ability of African gamers to compete on a level playing field with international rivals .
“ With a youthful and increasingly urban population in Africa , there ’ s an opportunity to invest in the dynamic eSports ecosystem , and capitalise on a growing entertainment phenomenon within this emerging market ,” says Morris Garrard , an analyst at Futuresource Consulting .
Bravado Gaming team , a South African eSports team , usually travel abroad for competitions and qualification tournaments , which has helped in improving its world rankings from 188th to 18th . South Africa and Egypt are the two countries with established professional gamers in Africa .
However , some solutions are being offered to address these obstacles . Video games publisher Ubisoft , maker of Rainbow Six Siege , has deployed servers online in South Africa , to allow local gamers compete against players in Tokyo , London and New York .
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