Africa Games Week (AGW) 2025 firmly established itself as Africa’s leading B2B games industry event, marked by record-setting commercial activity, new structural government support, and major investment announcements from global partners.

One of the most significant milestones of this year’s edition was the launch of the inaugural AGW Awards. This first-ever ceremony recognised eight outstanding winners across categories such as African Game of the Year, Social Impact, Diversity, Audience Choice, and Career Achievement, introducing a new annual platform dedicated to celebrating excellence within the African games ecosystem.

The recipients of awards are:

  • AGW African Game of the Year Supported by IESA: Stick it to the Stickman, by Free Lives
  • AGW Career Achievement Award: Vic Bassey
  • Wings Diversity Award Supported by Wings Interactive Hadleys Run: A Starship Saga, by Unsigned Double Collective
  • Game of the Year (Audience Choice): Rasta Santa – Retribution, by Deluxe Creation Studios
  • Social Impact Award Supported by Games For Change Africa: Relooted, by Nyamakop
  • AGW Pitch Competition Supported by Pitchify: Four Old Men
  • GamesConnect AFRICA Award Supported by the Goethe-Institut: Limpho Moeti
  • Eric Dybsand Memorial AI Scholar Supported by the IGDA Foundation: Margaret Gathoni

Another key highlight was the deepened collaboration with Microsoft, particularly through Xbox. The event featured extensive training and upskilling programmes led by Xbox experts, and AGW also played host to the official Xbox Game Camp Africa Studio Reveal. Ten studios from across the continent were selected for a three-month mentorship journey guided directly by Team Xbox, taking them from concept to working prototype. This partnership reinforced AGW’s commitment to talent development and strengthened Africa’s integration into the global gaming landscape.

The most transformative investment announcement came from Supercell. Represented by Social Impact Partner Deborah Mensah-Bonsu, the studio revealed a new fund designed specifically to support African creative teams. This long-term initiative aims to nurture high-potential studios through a model that goes “Beyond Funding,” marking one of the strongest international commitments ever made toward accelerating African games development.

Commercially, AGW 2025 delivered its most successful edition to date. More than 600 curated business meetings were facilitated between 500 delegates, generating major opportunities for developers, publishers, investors, and distributors. The expo showcased 20 exhibitors and attracted over 1,500 visitors, highlighting both the diversity and commercial potential of African game studios. With activities hosted across modern venues and supplemented by curated site visits, Cape Town continued to strengthen its position as a continental hub for the games industry.

Talent development played a central role throughout the event. AGW presented a comprehensive programme featuring 62 speakers across over 30 panels and workshops, alongside hands-on technical training delivered by Xbox, Unity, and the French Institute of South Africa. These sessions upskilled more than 120 delegates. Emerging studios benefited further from AGW’s partnership with SpielFabrique, which provided tailored mentorship, publishing exposure, and practical support for funding readiness.

A major social-impact component was delivered through the Games for Change Africa Festival, powered by Xsolla. The festival explored how games and immersive technology can drive meaningful change within education, health, sustainability, and other key sectors, bringing together developers, NGOs, policy thinkers, and innovators to reimagine the role of interactive media in African society.

The week concluded with a historic policy breakthrough during the AGW Flagship Policy Day. Senior representatives from National Treasury, the Provincial Government, and the Department of Communication and Digital Technologies (DCDT) participated in high-level discussions that resulted in the announcement of a new Gaming and Animation Advisory Committee. This commitment signals a major step toward national policy support for the industry. The committee will serve as a strategic advisory body to the DCDT, shaping policy, regulation, and digital transformation initiatives, and is expected to play a crucial role in enabling the long-term growth of the South African and broader African games ecosystem.

Overall, AGW 2025 delivered a landmark edition that combined business success, talent development, international investment, policy influence, and cultural celebration—marking a defining moment for the future of gaming on the African continent.