BRIDGE/PASSERELLE Selects 18 African Game Studios to Strengthen the Continent’s Independent Development Ecosystem

Africa’s game development industry continues to mature as the BRIDGE/PASSERELLE programme unveils its latest cohort of independent studios drawn from across the continent. The 2026 edition brings together 18 studios representing 12 African countries, reinforcing the growing recognition that collaboration, business development, and international partnerships are becoming just as important as technical creativity.

For many African developers, producing a successful game is only part of the challenge. Building sustainable companies capable of attracting investment, reaching global publishers, managing intellectual property, and expanding into international markets remains the greater hurdle. Programmes such as BRIDGE/PASSERELLE are increasingly addressing these structural gaps by equipping studios with the commercial foundations needed to grow beyond individual projects.

Rather than operating in isolation, participating studios will have the opportunity to exchange expertise, develop regional partnerships, and strengthen professional networks that extend well beyond their domestic markets. This collaborative model reflects an important evolution within Africa’s creative technology industries, where knowledge-sharing is becoming a competitive advantage.

The selected studios represent a diverse cross-section of Africa’s rapidly expanding game development landscape:

7Paw Studios (South Africa)
Elder Studios (Ethiopia)
Gbosaman (Nigeria)
Geco Games Studios (Zambia)
Idle Not Idle Games (South Africa)
KanQi Studios (Nigeria)
Mazaber Games (Ethiopia)
Mbolt Studios (Gambia)
Muqecha Studios (Ethiopia)
Neith Owl Games (Egypt)
Red Raketa Studio (Madagascar)
Robi Interactive Studios (Kenya)
Safarigames.ke (Kenya)
Safe Dollar Studios (South Africa)
Dawn Of Game Studio (Cameroon)
Foolen Games (Cote d’Ivoire)
Katulon Studio (Burkina Faso)
Terranga Games (Sénégal)

The geographical spread of the cohort is equally significant. Studios from Southern, Eastern, Western, Central and North Africa are represented, highlighting the increasingly continental nature of Africa’s game development ecosystem. While countries such as South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria continue to produce established studios, the inclusion of developers from Ethiopia, Madagascar, Burkina Faso, Gambia and Côte d’Ivoire illustrates the industry’s expanding footprint.

For Africa’s digital economy, this type of investment carries implications that extend beyond entertainment. Independent game studios increasingly contribute to software engineering, digital storytelling, animation, music production, artificial intelligence, extended reality, education technology and digital exports. Every successful studio creates opportunities for programmers, artists, designers, writers, composers and entrepreneurs within the broader creative economy.

The programme also demonstrates an important shift in mindset. Success is no longer measured solely by launching a game but by creating businesses capable of surviving, scaling and competing internationally. Sustainable studios are better positioned to secure publishing agreements, attract investors, generate recurring revenues and create long-term employment.

For Esports Africa News, initiatives like BRIDGE/PASSERELLE are helping build the commercial infrastructure that African gaming has long required. A stronger development ecosystem ultimately benefits the entire value chain—from publishers and investors to esports organisers, content creators, educational institutions and technology partners.

As Africa’s digital economy accelerates, the continent’s independent studios are steadily moving from emerging creators to globally competitive businesses. Programmes that strengthen collaboration, business capability and international visibility will continue to play an important role in ensuring that African-made games become an increasingly influential part of the global games industry.

The future of African gaming will not be built by individual studios working alone. It will be shaped by ecosystems that encourage collaboration, strengthen commercial capacity and position African creativity as a global export. BRIDGE/PASSERELLE is another step in that direction.