With nearly a third of its population under the age of 30, Morocco has a sizable demographic asset. An ultra-connected, English-speaking generation that consumes digital content and is familiar with the conventions of video games. According to industry professionals’ estimates, the country has between 8 and 10 million regular players in 2025, mainly on mobile, the segment that accounts for more than 50% of the global market.
Beyond usage, it is also the talent pool that is drawing attention. Gameplay programming, game design, 3D animation, sound design: the professions of the gaming industry overlap with expertise already present in certain Moroccan engineering schools and creative programs. This convergence between creativity and technical skill is part of a broader trend: the rise of the cultural and creative industries, now seen as drivers of economic growth and influence.
A public strategy under construction
“Since late 2021, we have worked tirelessly to make Morocco a regional and African hub in the gaming industry, an enormous sector that is developing at a breakneck pace”
Aware of this potential, the Moroccan state is beginning to build a dedicated strategy at the crossroads of several public policies: digital transition, industry, culture, and employment. Over the past four years, the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication has accordingly stepped up initiatives aimed at integrating video games into a broader vision of the cultural and creative industries.
« Since late 2021, we have worked tirelessly to make Morocco a regional and African hub in the gaming industry, an enormous sector that is developing at a breakneck pace, » declared Minister Mohammed Mehdi Bensaid in July 2025, at the second edition of the Morocco Gaming Expo in Rabat. The stated goal: to bring about an ecosystem capable of producing, but also of exporting, content. « We have the core to have a real industry, and in a few years to count Morocco as an interesting platform in the gaming industry, » he added.
With this in mind, several priorities are being highlighted: support for creative startups, the structuring of professions, and mentoring for young talent. The approach aims to be cross-cutting. The ministry is therefore calling for stronger coordination between the various departments involved, notably those of Investment and Digital Transition.
Structuring a still-embryonic ecosystem
As far as training, several initiatives have emerged since 2023: specialized programs in game design, animation, or programming in public and private schools, partnerships with international players, and certification programs
On the ground, the ecosystem remains in a phase of structuring. Morocco today has around fifteen studios dedicated to gaming and roughly a hundred startups operating within this ecosystem. But the signs of emergence are multiplying.
As far as training, several initiatives have emerged since 2023: specialized programs in game design, animation, or programming in public and private schools, partnerships with international players, and certification programs. The goal is clear: to close the shortage of experienced profiles, the main obstacle to the sector’s development.
In parallel, the Video Game Incubator program, dedicated to studios and project leaders, supports Moroccan startups from their earliest stages. The second edition of this incubator, launched in early 2026 by the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, offers entrepreneurs specialized mentoring with international experts, tailored training, and access to a broader professional network. The goal is to consolidate a base of studios capable of producing quality games and breaking into export markets.
Likewise, incubators and creative hubs are playing a key role. In Casablanca, Rabat, and Benguerir, support structures are gradually taking on gaming-related projects, with a focus on innovative startups.
On the international front, Morocco is activating its networks. The Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, alongside the Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development (AMDIE), is stepping up efforts to attract foreign studios by highlighting Moroccan talent, cost competitiveness, the country’s stability, and the quality of its infrastructure.
Anticipated economic benefits
By 2030, the Kingdom is said to be aiming to reach a turnover of 30 billion dirhams (about $3 billion) and the creation of 10,000 jobs
Ultimately, Morocco aims to create several thousand direct and indirect jobs. According to some projections, by 2030, the Kingdom aims to reach a turnover of 30 billion dirhams (about $3 billion) and the creation of 10,000 jobs, covering more than 80 professions: writing, programming, 3D animation, game design, AI, marketing, and more.
This ambition is driven in particular by the Rabat Gaming City project, a gaming city set to take shape soon in the capital. The stakes, however, go beyond the question of employment alone. The gaming industry is also a vehicle for international appeal: by attracting foreign studios, Morocco hopes to strengthen its image as a regional creative and technological hub.
The French studio TA Publishing, a subsidiary of the Polish group Forever Entertainment, a major publisher of video games on the Nintendo Switch, announced in February 2025 its intention to open a studio in Rabat, within Rabat Gaming City, with a target of 50 to 100 employees
Thus the French studio TA Publishing, a subsidiary of the Polish group Forever Entertainment, a major publisher of video games on the Nintendo Switch, announced in February 2025 its intention to open a studio in Rabat, within Rabat Gaming City, with a target of 50 to 100 employees. Its head, Benjamin Anseaume, sums up the reasons for this move: « After two years of searching for international locations, Morocco stood out for its structured and visionary strategy. We are convinced that Rabat Gaming City will become a key hub for our growth. »
Another strategic lever: the export of cultural content. Like South Korea, Japan, or China (notably with the global success of the game Black Myth: Wukong), video games can become a tool of soft power.
Narrative worlds inspired by Moroccan history, local aesthetics, revisited mythology: these are all avenues for creating value that the department headed by Mohammed Mehdi Bensaid is seeking to develop. Still, the competition is fierce.
Other emerging countries, on the African continent (South Africa) but also in the Middle East (Turkey, the United Arab Emirates) and in Asia (India, Vietnam), have already gained a head start, with more mature ecosystems and aggressive incentive policies. For Morocco, the challenge is therefore twofold: to move quickly, without skipping steps.
Written in French by TelQuel Impact, edited in English by Eric Nielson
