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Regular readers will be used to the PocketGamer.biz team’s usual week in views round-ups but as the year draws to a close it’s time to take a deeper look at some of the biggest stories of 2024.
Here’s Pocketgamer.biz MENA reporter Isa Muhammad’s take on some key moments that have shaped the year.
For most of 2024, I’ve gone into each week expecting to cover a new investment or acquisition from Nazara, and it rarely disappoints. It’s impossible to discuss this year’s gaming investments without mentioning India’s first publicly listed games firm.
Nazara has led the charge in growing the nation’s gaming and esports sectors, not only by expanding its own portfolio but also by investing in and supporting a wide range of companies.
The company’s $100 million commitment to M&A over the next two years signals it’s just getting started. Nazara has already acquired stakes in esports companies like Nodwin Gaming and taken a significant share in PokerBaazi’s parent company Moonshine. It also recently raised $108 million through a preferential issue to fund further acquisitions and expansions.
CEO and joint MD Nitish Mittersain has said that he envisions Nazara as a $10 billion company in the next five years. With its track record, Nazara will likely continue to shake up the gaming landscape, and I’m excited to see what new deals and acquisitions the firm makes in 2025, especially as India’s games industry is projected to reach $7.5 billion by 2028.
Gamathon has established itself as a key video game convention in Africa, and it’s clear that the event is set to grow in both scale and impact. While I couldn’t attend this year’s Africa Games Week due to visa issues, attending Gamathon 24 as a delegate made me feel like I didn’t miss out on anything.
The event was filled with vibrant energy, from insightful panel discussions to exciting game showcases. What stood out most was how much the convention has evolved over the years. It’s no longer just a gathering of game developers; it has become an event where the future of Africa’s gaming industry is taking shape.
I met several game developers and studio founders from across Africa, which made it clear that the event was a hub for learning and networking with industry leaders. With the possibility of Gamathon 25 taking place in three different African countries, I’m already looking forward to participating next year.
The African video games market is also set to grow from $2.14 billion in 2024 to $3.72 billion by 2029, driven by mobile gaming, smartphone adoption, and 5G.
The Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia and the UAE, seems to be relentlessly pursuing the opportunity to host it all—and perhaps that’s a good thing.
From becoming the stage for the first-ever Esports World Cup in Riyadh to being named the host of the inaugural Olympic Esports Games in 2025, host of the Games of the Future 2025, and now set to hold the 2034 FIFA World Cup, Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as a global entertainment and sports powerhouse.
This ambitious drive aligns with its Vision 2030 initiative, which, since its launch in 2016, has been transforming the country’s economic and cultural landscape. With the Esports World Cup offering the largest prize pool in history ($60m), clearly the KSA’s efforts aren’t simply about hosting big events—they are about shaping the future of entertainment.
In the United Arab Emirates, Dubai has also launched its Gaming Visa initiative to attract global talent. This is part of the Program for Gaming 2033 which aims to create 30,000 jobs, boost GDP by $1 billion, and position Dubai as a global leader in gaming revenue
Combined with the KSA’s efforts with Vision 2030, the Middle East is sailing towards becoming a global entertainment hub.
China’s video game license approvals have shown mixed trends in 2024. After a strong 2023, which saw 1,076 new licenses granted, January and February 2024 continued with high approval numbers of 115 and 111, respectively. However, a slight decline became evident in March and April, with approvals dropping to 107 and 95 games.
Despite this small dip, China’s approval of 104 domestic games in June, along with consistent monthly figures, suggests a recovery following the 2021 crackdown. China has now approved 1,162 games so far in 2024, including 90 from foreign developers, surpassing the total number of licenses granted in 2023.
This increase in approvals can be attributed to government efforts to rejuvenate the industry post-crackdown, alongside the successful launch of Black Myth: Wukong, signaling that the country is likely to approve even more licenses in 2025.
