South Africa Esports Market

South Africa Esports Market Overview:

The South Africa esports market size reached USD 9.33 Million in 2024. The market is projected to reach USD 38.36 Million by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 17.01% during 2025-2033. The market is advancing steadily, propelled by widespread gaming enthusiasm, rising mobile access, and expanding youth engagement across diverse platforms. The landscape is shaped by grassroots tournaments, streaming trends, and growing institutional support despite persistent challenges such as limited internet infrastructure, high data costs, and occasional power disruptions. Supportive education initiatives and international partnerships are further bolstering local ecosystems. With resilient community momentum and improving infrastructure, these dynamics are set to define the trajectory of South Africa esports market share.

South Africa Esports Market Trends:

Mobile Penetration Driving Audience Expansion

Esports in South Africa is evolving rapidly, with mobile gaming playing a central role in widening access and participation. With smartphone usage rising steadily across urban and rural areas, competitive gaming is becoming part of everyday entertainment for many younger users. The simplicity of mobile access means that esports are no longer limited to professional setups players can train, compete, and spectate from almost anywhere. In June 2025, a national report highlighted how major retailers are actively targeting mobile-first gamers, confirming a shift toward broader market engagement through devices that most South Africans already use daily. The rise in mobile access has also enabled the growth of community-driven tournaments and grassroots leagues, especially in previously underserved areas. These formats foster talent discovery and local engagement, while also creating more inclusive pathways into competitive esports. As more users enter the space through accessible platforms, participation and viewership are naturally scaling. This increased digital reach and player involvement is shaping the foundation for sustainable South Africa esports market growth.

Competitive Recognition on the Continental Stage

Esports in South Africa is no longer confined to informal gatherings it’s steadily gaining national pride and international recognition. The country has started achieving notable victories in African tournaments, with players representing South Africa on major stages. This momentum is driving broader public interest and drawing attention from sports and youth development bodies alike. In August 2024, South Africa’s female Counter‑Strike 2 team secured a spot at the World Esports Championships after winning the African Esports Championship. The achievement marks more than just a competitive win, it reinforces the country’s growing relevance in the global esports’ ecosystem. Recognition at this level also drives credibility for local players, while encouraging formal support for coaching, training, and development programs. As media coverage and fan engagement grow, these moments of success translate into institutional momentum and more inclusive national representation. These patterns of progress through performance and visibility signal that esports are emerging as a structured discipline. This rise in professionalism and continental standing directly reflects the evolving South Africa esports market trends.

Unified Event Strategy Enhancing Reach

South Africa’s esports ecosystem is maturing through strategic cooperation among key event organizers. The leading esports expos and conventions have aligned their calendars to maximize audience engagement and reduce logistical challenges. By running major events back-to-back, organizers are creating sustained momentum keeping fans, competitors, and sponsors engaged over longer periods. In May 2025, it was announced that three flagship esports events, the Rage Expo, Africa Games Week, and Playtopia, will coordinate their schedules, enabling continuous participation and more efficient operations. This unified calendar approach helps attendees minimize travel and accommodation costs while providing smoother transitions between events. For organizers, shared timelines allow resource pooling such as technical staff, infrastructure, and production capabilities enhancing event quality. Beyond the logistical gains, the collaboration also boosts tourism, as extended stays offer visitors a richer cultural experience. As South Africa positions itself as a regional esports’ hub, this coordinated strategy showcases professionalism, boosts visibility, and delivers value at scale. Coordinated events like these are laying stronger foundations for sustained South Africa esports market.

South Africa Esports Market Segmentation:

IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the market, along with forecasts at the country and regional levels for 2025-2033. Our report has categorized the market based on revenue model, platform and games.

Revenue Model Insights:

• Media Rights 
• Advertising and Sponsorships 
• Merchandise and Tickets
• Others

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the revenue model. This includes media rights, advertising and sponsorships, merchandise and tickets, and others.

Platform Insights:

• PC-Based Esports
• Consoles-Based Esports
• Mobile and Tablets

A detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the platform have also been provided in the report. This includes PC-based esports, consoles-based esports, and mobile and tablets.

Games Insights:

• Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA)
• Player vs. Player (PvP)
• First Person Shooters (FPS)
• Real Time Strategy (RTS)

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the games. This includes multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA), player vs. player (PvP), first person shooters (FPS), real time strategy (RTS).

Regional Insights:

• Gauteng
• KwaZulu-Natal
• Western Cape
• Mpumalanga
• Eastern Cape
• Others

The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of all the major regional markets, which include Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, and others.

Competitive Landscape:

The market research report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape. Competitive analysis such as market structure, key player positioning, top winning strategies, competitive dashboard, and company evaluation quadrant has been covered in the report. Also, detailed profiles of all major companies have been provided.

South Africa Esports Market News:

• March 2025: Ruckus Media Group (Pty) Ltd, the official South African affiliate of the Network of Academic and Scholastic Esports Federations (NASEF), has partnered with GameClass to introduce innovative video game-based education software to South African students. GameClass converts popular video games into educational experiences that are interactive, making learning more engaging across subjects. Its features range from special education assistance, sign language compatibility, to AI-assisted lesson design. This partnership will encourage creativity and greater understanding of students in South Africa.

South Africa Esports Market Report Coverage:

Key Questions Answered in This Report:

• How has the South Africa esports market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?
• What is the breakup of the South Africa esports market on the basis of revenue model?
• What is the breakup of the South Africa esports market on the basis of platform?
• What is the breakup of the South Africa esports market on the basis of games?
• What is the breakup of the South Africa esports market on the basis of region?
• What are the various stages in the value chain of the South Africa esports market? 
• What are the key driving factors and challenges in the South Africa esports market?
• What is the structure of the South Africa esports market and who are the key players?
• What is the degree of competition in the South Africa esports market? 

Key Benefits for Stakeholders:

• IMARC’s industry report offers a comprehensive quantitative analysis of various market segments, historical and current market trends, market forecasts, and dynamics of the South Africa esports market from 2019-2033.
• The research report provides the latest information on the market drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the South Africa esports market.
• Porter's five forces analysis assist stakeholders in assessing the impact of new entrants, competitive rivalry, supplier power, buyer power, and the threat of substitution. It helps stakeholders to analyze the level of competition within the South Africa esports industry and its attractiveness.
• Competitive landscape allows stakeholders to understand their competitive environment and provides an insight into the current positions of key players in the market.