The EU’s Digital Markets Act & Mobile Game Developers
The Digital Markets Act (DMA) represents a significant shift for European mobile game developers. Previously, they had to operate under restrictive conditions like major app stores imposed by gatekeepers. However, the DMA requires these platforms to enable in-game payments while supporting out-of-store builds and in-store processing for IAP in side-loaded games and alternative stores, offering developers more control over how they distribute their games.
“Developers can now host their apps on their websites or through web shops, giving them greater freedom to engage directly with players and offer exclusive content,” says Berkley Egenes, the Chief Marketing & Growth Officer at Xsolla. “This change opens up new opportunities for developers to take control of their distribution channels and create a more direct relationship with their audience.”
Berkley’s role lies in creating and marketing video game commerce solutions, which help Xsolla’s partners reach more players and increase their revenue.
“At Xsolla, we are dedicated to driving growth by providing developers with tools to distribute, market and monetise their games globally,” he says. “Every day, we focus on finding new ways to help developers overcome industry challenges and thrive in this dynamically changing market.”
Xsolla empowers mobile game developers
Xsolla is a global leader in video game commerce. Since its founding in 2005, Xsolla has helped developers and publishers of all sizes fund, launch, market and monetise their games across multiple platforms. The company offers a comprehensive suite of services specifically designed to simplify the complexities of global distribution, monetisation and player engagement.
Xsolla’s mission is to break down barriers to global game distribution, enabling developers to reach more geographies and build stronger relationships with their players.
“Our solutions, such as Web Shop and monetisation options, empower developers to take complete control of their game’s monetization and distribution strategies,” Berkley says.
As Chief Marketing & Growth Officer, he leads the marketing efforts to ensure Xsolla’s partners can fully utilise its suite of tools to maximise their revenue and reach. Berkley’s focus is helping developers adopt innovative monetisation models, engage directly with players and take advantage of emerging opportunities in the gaming space.
“Xsolla is built on a foundation of empowering developers. My team and I work closely with our partners to create strategies that allow them to expand globally, optimise their revenue streams and establish direct connections with their players,” he adds. “We always focus on finding solutions that drive long-term success for game creators.”
How the EU’s Digital Markets Act is impacting mobile game developers
The DMA creates a more competitive landscape and developers must adapt to these changes to capture more revenue.
“By taking advantage of alternative distribution channels and exploring new revenue models, developers can reduce reliance on traditional gatekeepers and negotiate better terms,” says Berkley.
This shift encourages developers to experiment with direct-to-player sales, subscription services and other monetisation strategies that were previously less accessible.
“Those who adjust their approach and take advantage of these new opportunities will be better positioned to capture a larger revenue share and strengthen their business in the long term,” Berkley continues.
So how can developers turn to direct-to-consumer (D2C) solutions to capture more revenue and optimise costs?
“Direct-to-consumer (D2C) solutions are essential for developers to retain more revenue and reduce costs,” he explains. “At Xsolla, we provide tools like Web Shop, which enables developers to sell in-game item subscriptions and complete games directly to players without relying on traditional app stores.”
The challenges in mobile gaming
One of the biggest challenges in the gaming industry is keeping up with player expectations and market dynamics.
“At Xsolla, we manage this by staying agile and always listening to the needs of developers and the broader gaming community,” he finishes. “We aim to provide flexible and future-proof tools that help developers succeed in an evolving market.”
Berkley sees the future of game development is full of exciting opportunities, particularly with the rise of new monetisation models.
“Free-to-play games and microtransactions will continue to dominate, but we’re also seeing the rise of subscription services that give players access to vast game libraries.”
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