Google Play has launched its first Indie Games Fund for Africa, committing Sh129 million ($1 million) to help independent game studios across 32 African countries scale their products and reach global audiences.
The fund, unveiled on July 1, provides equity-free capital alongside technical support and mentorship, targeting a sector the company says has been held back more by limited access to capital than by a shortage of creative talent.
Selected studios will receive individual allocations of between Sh6.5 million ($50,000) and Sh25.8 million ($200,000) from the pool, in addition to hands-on guidance from industry experts to refine their games, strengthen their technical frameworks and boost discoverability in the market.
“Africa’s unique creativity has fuelled a vibrant game development scene,” said Ben McOwen Wilson, Managing Director, Europe, the Middle East and Africa for Google Play. “Bringing this fund to the continent underscores our commitment to unlocking the immense talent of local studios, providing the resources needed to scale businesses, refine creative visions, and share uniquely African stories with a global audience.”
To qualify, applicants must be registered and based in one of the eligible countries, operate as a private, non-publicly listed studio with 50 or fewer employees, and have already launched a mobile, PC or console game.
Selected studios will be required to make their game available on Google Play and participate non-exclusively in the Google Play Pass subscription programme for two years.
Applications close at 3pm East African Time on July 31, through the official programme portal. Google Play will announce the 10 selected studios in September.
The fund is open to developers in Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo (DRC), Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
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