GameUp Africa's Elite externship has put three alumni-built games into live production
The 12-week programme selected 13 developers from 141 applicants across 25 countries for its first cohort
Maliyo Games' GameUp Africa Elite Externship has moved three alumni-built games into live production inside Safari City, marking a concrete shift from training programme to active development pipeline.
Elite was launched in 2025 as the answer to a gap the programme had identified over four years: learners were finishing bootcamps with portfolios but no clear route into professional production. The externship places top GameUp Africa alumni inside a simulated studio environment for 12 weeks, working across three sprints on real titles with real deadlines.
The first cohort drew 141 applicants from 25 countries. Thirteen were selected, working in multidisciplinary teams spanning programming, art, audio, and design. By the end of the programme, the cohort had pitched 18 concepts, developed 13 prototypes, and completed seven games, three of which are now live in Safari City.
From learner to shipped product
Measured outcomes from the cohort showed professional growth rising from 67% to 89% across the three sprints, with participant confidence in their ability to create games increasing by 33%. Peer ratings across all sprints averaged 4.27 out of 5.
Female representation in the cohort stood at 18%, with the programme continuing to push for broader inclusion in its next phase. GameUp Africa's full five-year impact report is available here.
Maliyo Games is listed in the IsaKaba Studios Directory.
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