Carry1st is easing in-app payments for 350 million African gamers by introducing local payment methods that bypass the need for international credit cards, enabling seamless top-ups for popular titles like Call of Duty Mobile.
Marvelous ‘Sage’ Faola, a 22-year-old Lagos-based gamer, recalled the frustration of playing Call of Duty Mobile without being able to upgrade his arsenal.
“It was tough, especially when there was a ban on Nigerian cards on foreign transactions. We had to send login details to third-party sellers, which is not safe. Buying them meant finding someone with a foreign card or using unreliable third-party sellers just to get COD points,” he said.
That changed two years ago when Carry1st launched its Pay1st platform. Now, Faola logs into the game, selects a top-up, and pays via bank transfer from his local account. The transaction completes in seconds, and he gets instant access to the items. What once seemed impossible for most African gamers—direct, affordable in-app purchases—has become routine, thanks to Carry1st’s integration of region-specific payment options..
Carry1st, founded in 2018 and headquartered in Cape Town, South Africa, positions itself as a bridge between global publishers and African gamers. The company partners directly with developers to integrate its payment aggregator, Pay1st, into games. This allows users to make in-app purchases using methods tailored to their countries: bank transfers in Nigeria, M-Pesa in Kenya, or mobile money in Ghana.
“We’ve aggregated all local payment methods,” said Caroline Nduta, Carry1st’s senior director of finance, in a recent interview. “Whether you’re in Nigeria or Kenya, you can use what’s relevant to you and access whatever you want in the game.”
The platform’s impact is evident in user growth. Since launching Pay1st two years ago, Carry1st has seen transaction volumes for Call of Duty Mobile increase six-fold annually. The company now serves over a million gamers, a fraction of the continent’s potential but a strong indicator of demand. Nduta highlighted how this equalises African players with their global peers: “Gamers here are passionate, but they felt left out. Now, they can seamlessly access direct top-ups from publishers, playing on a world stage.”
Read also: Africa’s gaming market grows six times faster than global average — Report
Africa’s gaming market provides fertile ground for such innovations. Valued at $1.8 billion in 2024, it grows at 12.4 percent year-on-year, six times faster than the global average of 2.1 percent. A 2024 survey by Carry1st estimated 347 million gamers on the continent, with 32 million added last year alone. Mobile gaming dominates, accounting for 304 million players and nearly 90 percent of revenue, or $1.6 billion. This leapfrogging of traditional consoles and PCs mirrors trends in mobile finance, where services like M-Pesa revolutionised banking.
Key drivers include a young population—median age 19.7—and falling costs for smartphones and data. However, payment friction remained a major hurdle until companies like Carry1st stepped in.
By removing this barrier, Pay1st not only boosts in-app purchases but also supports freemium models, ad-based revenue, and emerging subscriptions. Esports sponsorships and tournaments are also gaining traction, further monetising the ecosystem.
Carry1st’s efforts extend beyond payments to fostering community and infrastructure. The company recently hosted its second annual Carry1st Africa Cup for Call of Duty Mobile, held August 30-31, 2025, at D Podium in Ikeja, Lagos. The event drew eight teams from seven countries, competing for a $15,000 prize pool and a spot at the Call of Duty Mobile World Championship. Egypt’s Bear clan took home $7500 first place share after becoming the first ever African Call of Duty: Mobile World Championship team.
Nadim Nyker, who leads press and influencer marketing at Carry1st, described the Cup as an evolution from an experiment to a cornerstone of African esports. “We started with local servers in South Africa in 2022 and Nigeria in 2023 to improve ping speeds,” Nyker said. “That scaled the game, and the Cup brings players together as athletes, competing on par with the world.”
The tournament highlighted the region’s enthusiasm. Teams from Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, and others showcased strategic play and team chemistry. Broadcast on national TV in Ghana (GH1) and Kenya (K24), as well as streamed on TikTok and YouTube, it reached a broad audience. Nyker noted the camaraderie: “There’s heart and soul here. Players are grateful for better access and want to improve. It’s about proving Africa’s talent.”
Partnerships enhance this ecosystem. Carry1st’s collaboration with Spotify bridges music and gaming, recognising their overlap. “Music’s been at the heart of gaming,” Nyker said. “We had artists at our Call of Duty: Mobile launch, and Spotify’s involvement shows entertainment and gaming go hand in hand.” Such ties attract sponsorships, vital for esports growth.
