In the world of entertainment, video games are king. The global industry eclipses Hollywood in terms of revenues, and big game releases in franchises like Grand Theft Auto or Call of Duty make exponentially more money than even the biggest blockbuster films. It’s serious business. Gaming is now a respectable career path and in South Africa, the ecosystem of gaming media, developers, distributors and other stakeholders is on the up.

The local gaming industry is growing at a rapid rate as more opportunities become available. In its 2010 – 2014 Entertainment and Media Outlook review, consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers reported that spending in the local video gaming industry increased by 13.4 percent in 2009 to R1.2 billion. This figure is expected to reach R1.7 billion by 2014. Speak to industry stakeholders, however, and you’ll hear far higher estimations of what the local industry could be worth in the next five years.