Pan Africa Gaming Group

Category: Industry Network

Country: Africa

Founded: 2022

Members: 10+ studios

Status: Active

Overview

Pan Africa Gaming Group (PAGG) is a network of African game studios working together to strengthen the continent's games industry through collaboration, shared resources, publishing and knowledge sharing.

The group was founded in 2022 by studios from across Africa. Its founding members included Usiku Games in Kenya, Qene Games in Ethiopia, Leti Arts in Ghana, Kayfo Games in Senegal, Sea Monster in South Africa, Kiro'o Games in Cameroon, Dope Apps in Rwanda, Digital Mania in Tunisia and Maseka Game Studio in France.

PAGG says its network represents more than 200 professionals across multiple African markets. It also works on games for social impact, with projects covering areas such as education, healthcare, climate change and online safety.

Members

Usiku Games - Kenya
Qene Games - Ethiopia
Leti Arts - Ghana
Kayfo Games - Senegal
Sea Monster - South Africa
Kiro'o Games - Cameroon
Dope Apps - Rwanda
Digital Mania - Tunisia
Maseka Game Studio - France

Key People

Jay Shapiro - Usiku Games / PAGG co-founder
Dawit Abraham - Qene Games / PAGG co-founder
Eyram Tawia - Leti Arts / PAGG co-founder
Glenn Gillis - Sea Monster / PAGG co-founder
Olivier Madiba - Kiro'o Games / PAGG co-founder
Walid Sultan Midani - Digital Mania / PAGG co-founder
Robert Mugisha - DopeApps / PAGG co-founder
Julien Herbin - Kayfo Games / PAGG co-founder
Teddy Kossoko - Maseka Game Studio / PAGG co-founder

Intelligence

PAGG operates as a network of African game studios rather than a single development company, using collaboration between independent teams as a way to build capacity across the continent. Its model combines game development with social impact, talent development and market expansion.

In 2024, chairman Jay Shapiro said PAGG was deliberately limiting its growth while assessing potential members based on their business models, talent, values and market potential.

Funding & Backing

PAGG's 2024 interview pointed to a changing funding environment, with African studios beginning to attract attention from international investors and major games companies.
Shapiro said PAGG's own role was part of a broader shift that was bringing greater international attention to African game development.
The network also focuses on developing talent and capacity, with infrastructure, hardware, power, payments and access to investment identified as major challenges.

Strategic Model

PAGG launched in 2022 and deliberately kept its membership limited rather than expanding too quickly.
Potential members are assessed on business models, team quality, alignment with PAGG's values, and the scale and potential of their market.
Its #GamingForGood strategy uses games to address areas including wildlife conservation, sexual and reproductive health, financial literacy and education.
PAGG also sees AI as a tool for African developers to prototype faster, lower barriers to entry and improve their ability to secure funding.

Active & Upcoming Projects

PAGG's studios have worked on games connected to conservation, education, healthcare and entrepreneurship.
Electric Blue: Gecko Dash was highlighted as an example of this model, using a game to raise awareness around an endangered gecko species in Tanzania.
The network was also working on projects intended to provide free eyeglasses to children, protect endangered species and encourage entrepreneurship.

Performance Signals

In 2024, PAGG described itself as having nine studios across Africa, spanning North, West, East and Southern Africa.
Shapiro said the African games industry had grown from fewer than 100 people earning a living from games when PAGG's founders started out to a significantly larger and more active ecosystem.
PAGG's broader thesis is that Africa's large and young mobile audience could make the continent one of the world's major mobile games markets.

Key Person

Jay Shapiro - Chairman

Accepting introduction requests: Yes

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