Unfiltered & Unapologetic: Africa Steps Into the Spotlight
We have a voice, and it's speaking volumes ...
This newsletter was supposed to land in your inbox much earlier, but hey , life’s been doing its thing lately (is “lifing” officially a word yet?). Either way, I’ve had my eyes and ears glued to everything buzzing in the scene lately. From the Black Voices in Games Summer Showcase, to the online chatter around Relooted (the fresh new title from Nyamakop, the minds behind “Semblance”), and the rollout of the Mobile Pioneers Program by Spielfabrique and Voodoo, it’s been a packed month already!
Let’s be real, seeing African games in the spotlight was wholesome. Shoutout to South Africa and Nigeria for holding it down with titles likeTossdown, Go North , and Relooted. The continent showed up strong!
It’s always a good feeling to see games from the continent making waves and even better when they spark conversations. Relooted, for instance, has stirred up quite the online ruckus, challenging perspectives and ideologies across the board, Africans and non-Africans alike. Personally? I think that’s the mark of powerful creative work.
They say any press is good press, but more importantly: if a piece of art doesn’t move you, provoke thought, or shake the table a little… was it really art? Playing it safe rarely leaves an impact. I’m not here to pick sides on the narrative in the game . Yes, I do have thoughts, and no, I’m not sharing :) (See what I did there?), but what is wild is watching people try to dictate what stories others are allowed to tell and how they should tell it. Freedom of expression, anyone? We agree to disagree or how is it said ?
This reminds me of another recent moment on X involving Solomon ( A motion Designer in the community ) and Don Jazzy over Jazzy’s Burger job offer.
Solomon tweeted the offer for his creative services, and boom, online outrage followed. But rather than folding under pressure, he faced it head-on. He owned up to where he missed the mark, responded with clarity, and moved on. Today, He claims he’s goten new clients and cheekily claims he gave Don Jazzy’s Burgers free PR money couldn’t buy. You can catch the full thread here if you missed it.
And yes, let’s not forget the Mobile Pioneers Program by Spielfabrique and Voodoo, which also got its fair share of heat.
Questions were raised about its structure and fairness. Thankfully, folks with firsthand experience working with such publishers stepped in to explain the pros, cons, and context. Shoutout to Evans Kiragu, who laid it out perfectly: while the terms might not suit seasoned devs or established studios, the program offers valuable experience (and pressure) for newer developers looking to level up. Curious? Learn more about it by clicking the button and please, read the fine print. Spielfabrique didn’t hold back; everything’s spelled out clearly so applicants know what they’re stepping into.
Whew! This past week has been a rollercoaster, but in the best way. Not because everything was “right” or “wrong” (who am I to say?), but because of the confidence, courage, and clarity that so many creatives showed. From bold expressions to uncomfortable truths, y’all reminded me that progress comes at a cost, but it’s worth it.
So here’s to speaking up, shaking tables, and telling our stories on our own terms. You inspire more than you know. 🙌
Now, let’s dive into some updates from the week.
From the community
All roads lead to Lagos Games Week
This is the biggest event happening this week for Game Developers and stakeholders in Nigeria. The schedule is up on the website, the speakers have been announced, what are you waiting for ? Remember that some activities are invite-only and require a seperate registration, like the ID@Xbox day where a seperate link was shared in the NIgerian Game Developers Community Whatsapp group.
Leti Art Goes Green
Leti Art has partnered with Playing for Planet to join the global fight against climate change through the power of games. With the game, SWEAVE, players around the world can help reforest Kenya while enjoying an authentic African word game experience. 🌍🌱 By making in-game donations, players unlock amazing rewards and support tree planting through the Hangera Project.
Every download making a difference. Every play , a planting possibility.
Good Read / Watch
The Hard Truth about the Finnish Games Industry
The Finnish games industry has long been held up as a model worth emulating, but recent reports suggest that the very strengths that fueled its past success might now be creating roadblocks in today’s rapidly evolving landscape. Don’t just take my word for it. Dive into this article by Deconstructor of Fun and see what conclusions you come to.
Jason Della Rocca Funding Futures Series is out for free on GDC Vault
Well, that mouthful of a title pretty much says it all!
You can watch the recorded sessions by clicking the links below
• 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴
• 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗻𝘀: 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗩𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀
• 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀
Are you aware of how AI in animation has grown?
The world is shifting at lightning speed and technology? Evolving at a pace that’s unreal ( Anyone in GDU would catch this Chuks Sub :) ). Sometimes you’ve got to pause and ask, where exactly are we rushing to?
It feels like just yesterday that Runway ML launched the first-ever AI film competition. Now, an AI in Animation challenge has wrapped up and the submissions? Absolutely mind-blowing. Seriously, take a look at what people created.
And this was before VEO 3 even hit the mainstream!
Smart Job search tool
Spotted something potentially game-changing for job seekers in the games industry posted by Steven Yau on LinkedIn that might just streamline your job hunt.
In his words:
“Many game companies host their job openings directly on platforms like Greenhouse and Workday. This tool uses Google X-ray to search those platforms and surfaces roles posted directly by the companies themselves!”Pretty neat, right?Full disclosure , I haven’t tried it out myself yet, so if you do give it a spin, I’d love to hear your thoughts! You can check it out here.