How Much Do Video Game Developers Earn in South Africa? Generally, in the video game industry, there are three types of positions: programmers, artists, and designers. Out of these three, designers have the highest salaries. In South Africa, the average salary for a video game designer is R304,167 per year. For programmers, the average salary is R288,333 per year, and for artists, the average salary is R268,000 per year.
How much do video game developers earn in South Africa?
Video game developers in South Africa earn an average salary of R337,500 per year. Salaries range from R154,000 to R511,000 per year. The median salary is R375,000 per year.
The cost of living in South Africa
The cost of living in South Africa varies depending on the city you live in, with Johannesburg and Cape Town being the most expensive. According to Numbeo, the average cost of living in Johannesburg is R13,597.37 (US$ 942.57) per month, while the average cost of living in Cape Town is R13,242.31 (US$ 917.44) per month.
The video game industry is a growing sector of the South African economy and offers many opportunities for skilled workers. According to Payscale, the average salary for a video game developer in South Africa is R196,898 (US$ 13,541) per year. However, salaries can vary depending on experience, skillset and location. For example, a lead game developer at EA Games in Johannesburg may earn an annual salary of R1,267,149 (US$ 85,480), while a junior game developer at a small studio in Durban may only earn R144,530 (US$ 9762) per year.
The video game industry in South Africa
According to a recent study, the video game industry in South Africa is worth around R2.4 billion. The same study showed that there are approximately 2,000 video game developers in the country. So, how much do these developers earn?
The history of the video game industry in South Africa
The video game industry in South Africa has its origins in the late 1970s, with the development of a handful of home computer games. The first commercially available game, Congo Bongo, was released in 1981. The industry grew slowly through the 1980s and 1990s, with a number of local developers releasing games for home computers and early consoles.
The industry began to take off in the early 2000s, with the release of several internationally successful titles, including Carmageddon and Jagged Alliance. Since then, the industry has continued to grow, with a number of local developers finding success on the global stage.
Today, the video game industry in South Africa is worth an estimated R2.4 billion ($175 million), and employs over 2,000 people.
The future of the video game industry in South Africa
The future of the video game industry in South Africa looks very promising. The industry is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.6% between 2016 and 2021. This is primarily due to the increasing popularity of video games among the younger population and the growing number of women playing video games. In addition, the expansion of broadband infrastructure and the increasing availability of mobile devices are also expected to contribute to the growth of the industry.
The impact of the video game industry on the South African economy
The positive impact of the video game industry on the South African economy
The video game industry has had a positive impact on the South African economy, contributing to job creation and growth.
The industry has seen a significant increase in recent years, with the number of businesses involved in game development increasing from just 10 in 2010 to over 120 in 2017. This growth has been driven by a rise in global demand for video games, as well as the increasing popularity of mobile gaming.
This growth has had a positive knock-on effect on the South African economy, contributing to job creation and economic growth. In 2017, the industry was estimated to have generated around R2.4 billion for the South African economy and supported over 6,000 jobs.
The future looks bright for the South African video game industry, with continued growth expected in the coming years. This growth is likely to be driven by continued global demand for video games, as well as the growing popularity of mobile gaming in South Africa.
The negative impact of the video game industry on the South African economy
The video game industry is a large and growing industry, with a global market worth an estimated $99.6 billion in 2016. The industry is expected to grow to $118.8 billion by 2019. However, the South African video game industry is not immune to the negative impact of the global economic downturn, with the local industry being valued at only R2.4 billion in 2016.
The impact of the global economic downturn has been felt particularly hard in the South African video game industry, with many developers having to cut jobs and salaries. The local industry has also been hit by a number of high-profile closures, such as that of Free2Play Online Entertainment (F2P), which closed its doors in 2014.
Despite these challenges, the South African video game industry continues to grow, with a number of new studios opening up and new games being released. However, it is clear that the industry is not immune to the wider economic climate, and that it faces significant challenges in the years ahead.
