Google Play names 10 studios for its Indie Games Fund in Africa
Each studio receives between $50,000 and $200,000
Google Play has named the 10 studios selected for its first Indie Games Fund in Africa, a $1 million pool of equity-free funding, mentorship and technical support for independent developers across Sub-Saharan Africa.
According to Google's launch terms, each studio receives between $50,000 and $200,000 and commits to publishing on Google Play and joining Google Play Pass non-exclusively for two years. Nigeria and South Africa have four studios each, with one each from Ghana and Kenya.
The selected studios
- Clockwork Acorn (South Africa): Jetstream
- Deluxe Studios (Nigeria): Rasta Santa
- Fer Factor (Nigeria): Chore Master
- Gazuntype (Nigeria): Go North
- Disputed People Games (South Africa): Mitts and the Divine Recipes
- Leti Arts (Ghana): Sweave: Weave Your Destiny
- Maliyo Games (Nigeria): Safari City: Renovate & Design
- Studio Bo (South Africa): Idle Sands
- Vetkoek Studios (South Africa): Taxi Ranked: Van Driving Game
- Weza (Kenya): Riziki: Vibe to African Beats
Several studios said the money will take their games further on Google Play. Clockwork Acorn co-founders Francois and Leon van Niekerk said the grant gives them space to finish Jetstream and release it on mobile.
Deluxe Studios founder Edu Shola said it will fund a Google Play Pass version of Rasta Santa, adding that "getting our games discovered has always been one of our biggest challenges." Studio Bo plans to bring Idle Sands, its first full mobile game, to the Google Play Store and Play Pass.
Weza co-founder George Odongo Ahere described Riziki as the studio's "love letter to African music and dance," built through years of setbacks and rejections. Vetkoek Studios said it will use the funding to grow its team and push Taxi Ranked to a higher standard.
