In a world where mobile gaming reigns supreme, platforms like Android offer an unprecedented chance for creators, especially those from underrepresented regions to reach global audiences. The Global Voices Challenge, run by Games for Change, seeks to do exactly that: elevate talented game developers whose work originates outside Android, help them port to Google Play, and provide mentorship, funding, and visibility.

For African mobile developers, this kind of initiative is more than just a contest—it represents a strategic pathway to growth, validation, and sustainable development. Below, I explore how programs like this deliver real value, what constraints they must navigate, and how African developers can maximize the opportunity.

What Is the Global Voices Challenge?

  • Purpose & Reach
    The challenge is designed to bring quality, narrative-driven games from PC or console onto Google Play for the first time, particularly focusing on creators from underrepresented backgrounds. Games for Change
  • Support Structure
    Three winners will receive:
    1. Mentorship from mobile game industry experts
    2. Marketing and distribution support through the Games for Change network
    3. Funding, with a total of USD 45,000 to be divided (USD 15,000 per winner) Games for Change
  • Eligibility Criteria
    • The game must have an existing presence on non-Android platforms (e.g. PC, console)
    • It must already generate a baseline revenue (minimum USD 10,000 per month)
    • The developer must commit to porting and publishing the Android version by the end of Q2 2026

Applications can be done here until October 3rd 2025.