In a groundbreaking moment for Africa’s gaming industry, Apple has recognized the creative achievements of Pan-African game development studio Maliyo Games by featuring three of its standout titles in the 2025 Africa Day App Store celebration. This honor shines a global spotlight on African talent and storytelling in the mobile gaming space.
The announcement, made in a statement on Wednesday, marks a significant endorsement from Apple, as it continues its tradition of celebrating innovation across the continent through its App Store editorial campaigns. This year’s Africa Day theme focuses on digital creativity in apps, games, music, and film—and Maliyo Games is leading the charge in the gaming category.
Three of Maliyo’s most popular games—Crazy Ludo, Safari City, and Whot King—were selected by Apple for their cultural relevance, engaging gameplay, and Africa-themed updates. These updated versions launched on May 21, 2025, across both the App Store and Google Play, reaching a global audience while staying rooted in African heritage.
Maliyo Games Showcases African Stories Through Apple Platform
Maliyo Games, founded in Lagos, Nigeria, in 2012 by Hugo Obi, has long championed the idea of “Games for Africa, by Africans.” Through its creative work, the studio has become a cultural ambassador, telling authentic African stories via mobile gaming. This recent recognition from Apple represents a major milestone—not just for the company but for the entire African game development ecosystem.
“This recognition from Apple is a huge moment for us and for African game development as a whole,” said Hugo Obi, founder of Maliyo Games. “It validates the years of hard work by our amazing team across the continent. We’re proud to tell African stories through our games, built by African developers, for a global audience.”
Each of the three featured games reflects distinct aspects of African culture:
-
Crazy Ludo reimagines the classic board game with vibrant African aesthetics, daily missions, and Africa Day-themed tournaments. Its latest update showcases in-game art inspired by traditional African patterns and symbols.
-
Safari City blends match-3 gameplay with city-building mechanics. Players can design African-inspired neighborhoods while engaging with character-driven stories, including new additions like Mama Gold. Updated architectural styles in the game are drawn from iconic African landmarks.
-
Whot King is a digital revival of the beloved Nigerian card game, now enhanced with an Africa Day Challenge—a multi-city tournament featuring heritage-inspired card decks and real-world African backdrops.
At the heart of Maliyo Games’ success lies its developer training initiative, GameUp Africa. Launched in 2021, this program aims to cultivate the next generation of African game developers by providing practical skills and mentorship. With over 6,000 applicants to date, the initiative has created a pipeline of skilled talent, many of whom contributed to the development of the featured games.
Obi emphasized the importance of the initiative: “GameUp Africa has allowed us to nurture talent from across the continent. Many of our junior developers who trained under this program played a crucial role in these projects, including our collaboration with Disney on Iwájú: Rising Chef.”
This commitment to local empowerment and capacity-building is a core reason Maliyo Games continues to thrive—and why platforms like Apple are paying attention.
Maliyo’s feature on the Apple App Store is part of a larger movement highlighting the growing potential of Africa’s gaming sector. A recent KPMG report revealed that Africa’s gaming industry surpassed $1 billion in revenue in 2024, fueled by mobile-first gaming habits and a youthful, tech-savvy population.
As global tech companies like Apple spotlight African developers, the continent’s creative economy is receiving a long-overdue boost. This increased visibility opens doors for more investment, partnerships, and innovation in African gaming.
“The future of gaming is diverse, inclusive, and global, and Africa is a big part of that story,” said Obi. “We’re building games that reflect our culture, our stories, and our people. This is just the beginning.”
Apple’s Endorsement Signals New Era for African Creators
By featuring Maliyo Games in its Africa Day celebration, Apple not only acknowledges the artistic and technical excellence of African developers but also reinforces its commitment to spotlighting underrepresented voices on its global platform. This moment marks a turning point where African creativity is not just recognized—it’s celebrated.
As Maliyo Games continues to innovate and empower the next generation of developers, its partnership with platforms like Apple signals a bright future for the intersection of culture, technology, and storytelling in Africa.
Source- PUNCH
