Pakistan’s mobile gaming is on fire, climbing to the second spot in the region behind only Vietnam, as per Data Darbar’s fresh report on the State of Apps 2024. Studios here pumped out over 1,050 games last year, splitting into 764 for Android and 289 for iOS, leaving behind rivals like the Philippines, Indonesia, Mexico, and Egypt in the dust.
With smartphone usage reaching all-time highs and internet prices continuing to drop, this growth is part of the nation’s broader digital development. It’s a sign that young artists and programmers in Karachi and Lahore are transforming keyboards into treasure troves.
despite a little decline in total app releases, Pakistan ranked ninth globally in 2024 with 3.56 billion app downloads, up 9.2% from the previous year. With those 1,053 titles, gaming led the way, demonstrating how developers are placing large bets on fast-paced, captivating plays that captivate millions of people while they’re on the go.
Now for the game-changers, the Ministry of IT and Ignite have launched the Centre of Excellence in Gaming and Animation (CEGA), which will teach newcomers everything from VR design to 3D modeling.
This increase highlights Pakistan’s unexplored potential in a $100 billion worldwide market where 85% of development is driven by new locations like ours. Expect more daring investments on narrative-driven epics that combine Desi flair with worldwide appeal when CEGA takes effect.
Supported by the government, it serves as a sort of platform for the following generation, which aims to replace unrefined volume with polished hits that are exported all over the world. This could quickly grow the industry from $40–50 million to a billion-dollar beast, with 30,000 developers already working hard and space for 10,000 more each year.
