Xbox Game Studios Game Camp confirmed for Africa

Tech giant Microsoft, through its Africa Transformation Office, announced its planned Xbox Game Studios Game Camp Africa.

The event is a two-day conference to recognise and celebrate all game creators across more than 50 diverse countries and regions.

Now in its second year and 5th event, the Xbox Game Studios Game Camp programme aims to empower creators across the world to realise their potential in the gaming industry through unique learning experiences from industry leaders.

Game camp

The conference will run from July 15 – July 16 and is open for applications today.

Microsoft gaming chief Phil Spencer said Xbox is on a mission to bring the joy and community of gaming to the world’s 3 billion gamers.

“We recognise that Africa is home to the largest population of youth in the world, many who love to play. In 2019 I attended the opening of our Africa Development Centre and met with tech leaders, educators, and developers from across the region to understand their vision for the future of game creation.

“Through the inaugural Xbox Game Studios Camp Africa, in collaboration with Microsoft’s Africa Transformation Office, we have an opportunity to continue to deepen our relationships with talented developers in the region and help African games studios realise their vision and role in the global gaming industry,” Spencer said.

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Agenda

While the camp, including presentations, panels, and workshops, is available online for all registered campers, Game Camp will host four in-person locations for campers during the two days in Cairo, Johannesburg, Lagos and Nairobi.

These sites will offer viewing parties, on-site panel sessions and opportunities to meet with Microsoft and Xbox personnel. Furthermore, teams or individuals with games to pitch are encouraged to do so.

Gaming

With soaring interest from African youth, the gaming industry is set to grow exponentially across the continent, as more people get connected to the internet.

According to the 2021 GSMA mobile economy report, 303 million people, about 28% of the population in sub-Saharan Africa, are connected to mobile internet. This number is set to grow to 474 million by 2025.

This will offer many more opportunities for gaming and local creators to grow and develop in the market.

A report commissioned by Newzoo shows that the number of Sub-Saharan gamers has more than doubled in the last five years and the region is projected to be the fastest-growing globally for both mobile gamers and people who pay for games.

Africa

The State of the African Games Industry 2022 finds that South Africa has the highest saturation of gamers, with 24 million people playing within a population of 59 million (40%). In Ghana, 27% of people play games, with 23% in Nigeria, 22% in Kenya, and 13% in Ethiopia.

Entry

To participate, individuals must be of legal age, reside in any country in the African continent and be studying or working part or full-time in the field of software development, visual arts, 3D, music and audio, web design, narrative design, or professional project management.

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