What's Happening?
South African game studio Nyamakop humorously addressed the frequent exclusion of Africa in global game launch maps. They posted a map on social media showing limited release times for their game 'Relooted' in African cities, followed by a corrected map including more global cities. 'Relooted' is a heist game about repatriating art and artifacts from Western museums to their origins. The joke underscores a common industry oversight where Africa is often left unmarked in worldwide release graphics, despite the continent's growing gaming market.
Why It's Important?
Nyamakop's joke brings attention to a broader issue of Africa's underrepresentation in the global gaming industry. This oversight can contribute to a lack of investment and development in the region's gaming market.
By highlighting this issue, Nyamakop is advocating for greater inclusion and recognition of Africa as a viable market for video games. This could encourage more game developers to consider Africa in their global strategies, potentially leading to increased economic opportunities and cultural representation in the gaming industry.
