Levelling Up A peek into South Africa's dynamic gaming industry

The number and variety of games available to us has exploded and local development talent is right up there with the best

- Shannon Manuel

iN THE LAST FEW DECADES, GAMING HAS TRANSFORMED FROM A NICHE HOBBY INTO A GLOBAL PHENOMENON THAT TRANSCENDS AGE, CULTURE AND GEOGRAPHY.

What began with pixellated adventures in arcades and on home consoles has now blossomed into an immersive universe where players can lose themselves in hyperrealistic graphics, expansive worlds and intricate storylines. Today, gaming isn't just about playing - it's about community, competition, and even career opportunities. From casual mobile games to the high-stakes arena of esports, the gaming industry is constantly evolving, pushing the boundaries of technology and creativity.

We spoke to Grant Hinds, one of South Africa's most well-known professional gamers, tech enthusiasts and content creators, to get some insider information on gaming culture in SA and the latest trends.

Can you describe the general gaming culture in South Africa?

It's bustling! Lots of people play video games. There's a common perception that gaming is a small subsidiary; but in fact, it's pretty large and pervasive everywhere, as people play different kinds of games. You'll find that there's a lot of mobile gaming. I like to think of gaming as similar to watching TV or reading books. You might say that someone is a "reader" or a "TV watcher"; and in the same sense, people are "gamers", in that almost everyone does it.

In South Africa specifically, it's a three-and-a-half billion rand industry, so a lot of people are participating in this space. In terms of culture, because there are so many different kinds of games, the whole culture is quite split up and segmented, depending mostly on the platforms people play their games on-console, PC or mobile - and the kinds of games that they play. It's also separated by genre.