The Xsolla 2025 Game Status Report reveals optimistic trends

Mobile games are flourishing, the Asia-Pacific market is experiencing a leap and new opportunities and new markets. At our most Gamesbeat Live session, Chris Hugh, Chief Strategic Director at Xsolla, he talks to Dean Takahashi, a leading writer of Gamebeat about what leaders of the game industry can expect in 2025, a recent XSolla -report – The status of the game in the gaming industry: 2025 and then -And what leads to greater than expected growth of the industry.

Probably the biggest trend is the growth of web stores Direct-Consumer (DTC), conditioned by 70% percentage of sales capture out of the platform, which has become possible through regulatory changes that free developers on traditional app stores.

“This is part of a greater trend that is related to the placement of power in the hands of consumers and consumers,” Hughsh said. “Things have been locked before on platforms and goalkeepers, but now we are doing things easier and we give them more access.”

The changing landscape of revenue from the game

The price of platforms accrued 30% of developers’ revenue has decreased and has become extremely overwhelmed, which makes a major challenge. Platforms still have their place, but developers are looking for ways to develop beyond them and add streams of revenue, where margins are significantly more favorable and realize large percentages of success, Hugh.

“We see a 16% increase in total revenue for companies that engage in them because it’s not just a margin,” he explains. “You pay a little, you connect directly to your player and you are able to find out who this player is.”

The Xsolla strategy is related to the unification of opportunities, Hughish added, providing studies of all sizes and even independent developers what they need to succeed in a business side of the game industry. The company is in a unique market position, sitting in the middle of the Venn Payment, Platforms and Technology Scheme. They are a trader of partner records offering over a thousand different global payment methods, while offering a number of other solutions. They range from web stores, fast and rationalized ways to start sales of DTC and cloud -based technology to funding, operating tools, recently announced loyalty solution as a service, alternative revenue models such as “Play Before Buy” and a publisher, which gives the developers a way to scale marketing.

“There really is no one who offers everything we do and we offer it for free if you work with us,” he said. “We just charge a fixed fee.”

Trends in growth and industry perspectives

In the industry, there is an unexpected 9% jump in growth over the last three months, led by industry trends, with the upcoming prestige title edition such as GTA 6 and an excitement around the next generation of Nintendo Switch, which is expected to increase engagement and costs throughout the sector. And there are also bigger margins for developers who are launching new revenue strategies.

Consolidation of industry

The consolidation of the industry creates challenges for independent studios as larger studio systems create increased competition and market control, but when more company takes a little studio, projects are often funded, operations are simplified and that increased competition means that better games are made. Plus, independent studios are more capable of holding their own today with new revenue strategies of lower cost, easy to start.

The changing perspective for cloud games

When the cloud games first appeared, it was advertised as a platform by itself.

“The reality is Cloud Gaming is a more feature and can be very important about how you connect with your players,” Hughs explained. “What we see is the people who look at cloud games as a way to open the top of their funnel, where they can contact players everywhere, connect with audiences around the world and allow them to try your game before they buy it.”

Cloud games eliminate hardware limitations, reducing play barriers and leveling the playing field for developers that can expand beyond traditional console and computer markets. Plus, allowing players to experience a game before buying means higher conversion rates, increased confidence and longer detention.

The Xsolla cloud game service allows developers to offer instant access to games, reducing the friction between opening and purchase.

Labor market

Hughsh pointed out that market growth should also mean growth of playgrounds, despite the consolidation of the industry and hopes to see this trend.

“Only for me personally and I know about our company, we are great supporters to go directly to the players, putting power into the hands of the developers,” he said. “If you maintain 20% more than your revenue, some will go to marketing, some will build better suggestions for your players. But it’s also more money to save your staff and keep your teams.”