A Market Ready for Lift-off
Pakistan has more than 35 million active gamers, and mobile remains the dominant platform. Yet fewer than 60 studios report recurring export revenues. CEGA's data indicates that shifts in global outsourcing, paired with local production incentives, will increase pipeline opportunities by 35% year-over-year.
A convergence of factors—cheaper connectivity, Gen Z spending power, and the appetite for locally flavoured IP—creates ripe conditions for founders. We see the most momentum inside casual multiplayer, live-service management tools, and narrative-driven premium titles for PC.
Policy Tailwinds You Can Leverage
Recent fiscal reforms now classify certain game exports under IT-enabled services, offering tax exemptions for approved incubators. CEGA's policy team has published templates to help founders tap into these concessions and streamline compliance.
Keep an eye on the Export Refinance Scheme (ERS). Studios that can show a 12-month revenue cycle may qualify for low-interest capital. Pair that with CEGA's investor readiness sprints to enter 2025 with a strong runway.
Where CEGA Is Investing Its Energy
Our incubation cohorts now include dedicated pods for tooling startups—analytics dashboards, monetisation engines, and cloud infrastructure that can support dozens of studios at once.
We are equally focused on narrative-led experiences that amplify Pakistani lore. If you are building in this space, consider applying to our Spring 2025 cohort where storyteller mentorship is embedded in the curriculum.
Key Takeaways
- Mobile-first studios can now access new export incentives.
- Tooling startups fill critical supply chain gaps for the region.
- Narrative IP grounded in local culture is attracting publisher interest.