Takeaways from Gamathon 25
The six-day event comes to a close
Gamathon 25 from Africacomicade has come to an end after six days of talks, B2B networking, and exhibitions for developers, publishers, and service providers.
The event also featured panel sessions and expert presentations from Edu Shola, Madiba Guillaume Olivier, Thorsten S. Wiedemann, Feranmi Oladosu and Douglas Ogeto.
So, after two days of networking, panel sessions, and game showcases, what did we learn? Below are my key takeaways from Gamathon 2025.
1. Reality is setting in
There were many talking points in Gamathon 25, and one of the highlights for me was how game development reality is starting to set in for small indie teams.
One of the most eye-opening sessions came from Fer Factor CEO and founder Feranmi Oladosu, who shared that 95% of African game developers won’t ship a proper game - not because they lack skill, but “because it’s genuinely hard”.
I also found myself nodding along as Oladosu pointed out the struggles of finding funding. For small studios dreaming of creating the next Call of Duty or God of War, the message was clear: start small and finish something, even if the ambition is bigger.
Simply because a game looks good doesn’t mean publishers will come running. Game development is tough, and having a playable build is only one step toward success. It’s a message small studios rarely hear on public stages - a needed reminder for teams who might underestimate how time-consuming and demanding game development really is.
You can read the full list of takeaways here.
