Featured session on in-app, web shop, and D2C strategies addresses mobile growth and platform diversification challenges
Xsolla, a global video game commerce company that helps developers launch, grow, and monetize their games, today announced its participation as Platinum Partner at Pocket Gamer Connects Summit San Francisco 2026, taking place on Monday, March 9th at 715 Harrison Street. The event brings together more than 750 mobile gaming professionals for a full day of focused insights, practical discussions, and high-impact business development opportunities centered on mobile and artificial intelligence. As mobile competition intensifies and AI continues reshaping production pipelines, LiveOps strategies, and player engagement models, the summit provides a concentrated forum for exploring sustainable growth in 2026 and beyond.
Xsolla’s participation includes a featured session on building monetization mixes for mobile games, alongside participation in an invite-only Supper Club dinner designed to foster deeper strategic conversations among senior mobile leaders. The company’s presence reflects its commitment to helping developers navigate the increasing complexity of mobile game monetization, from platform policies to emerging direct-to-consumer models.
Key Insights at a Glance
- Featured Session: Xsolla and SciPlay will present “In-Store, In-App, D2C: Building Monetization Mix for 2026” on Monday, March 9 at 3:10 PM, addressing practical frameworks for reducing platform dependency.
- Executive Forum: Xsolla will participate in the invite-only Supper Club dinner on March 10, enabling senior mobile leaders to discuss strategic challenges and partnership opportunities.
- Market Context: The summit arrives as mobile studios balance rising acquisition costs, platform policy complexity, retention pressure, and rapid AI adoption across production and operations.
- Monetization Focus: Session content emphasizes combining in-app purchases, web shops, and direct-to-consumer models into diversified strategies that increase lifetime value and adapt to evolving conditions.
Monetization Mix Strategies for 2026
The mobile gaming landscape has grown increasingly complex, with studios needing to balance multiple revenue channels while navigating platform policies and shifting player expectations. Xsolla’s session with SciPlay addresses this complexity directly, outlining how leading developers are combining in-app purchases, web shops, and emerging direct-to-consumer models into cohesive monetization strategies. The discussion will focus on practical frameworks for reducing dependency on any single platform channel, increasing player lifetime value through diversified engagement, and building scalable revenue systems that adapt to market evolution. “Mobile remains one of the most opportunity-rich segments in gaming, yet it is also one of the most operationally complex,” said Berkley Egenes, Chief Marketing & Growth Officer at Xsolla. “Studios are balancing acquisition costs, platform policies, retention pressure, and rapid AI adoption. Events like PGC Summit create space for honest conversations about what sustainable monetization really looks like and how developers can take greater control of their growth.”
Direct-to-Consumer Momentum and Platform Dynamics
The emphasis on D2C models in the session reflects broader industry trends as developers seek greater control over player relationships and revenue streams. Web shops and direct sales channels offer studios the ability to retain higher margins, access first-party data, and maintain direct communication with players independent of platform storefronts. However, implementing D2C successfully requires navigating complex payment processing, fraud prevention, and user experience considerations. Xsolla’s expertise as a global commerce company with merchant of record capabilities positions it to help developers address these challenges. The session’s focus on combining IAPs with D2C acknowledges that the future is not about choosing one channel over another but about orchestrating multiple channels in ways that maximize overall player value while maintaining operational efficiency.
Executive Forums and Strategic Networking
Beyond its public session, Xsolla’s participation in the invite-only Supper Club dinner on March 10 underscores the importance of senior-level strategic dialogue in addressing mobile gaming’s most pressing challenges. This private gathering brings together mobile leaders to discuss real-world implementation challenges and collaboration opportunities outside the main conference setting. With many teams reassessing their monetization mix, global payment strategies, and AI-driven workflows, these smaller executive forums provide a valuable environment for candid discussion and partnership development. The combination of public education and private executive engagement reflects Xsolla’s approach to supporting the gaming ecosystem at multiple levels, from practical tooling to strategic advisory.
Future Outlook
The Pocket Gamer Connects Summit San Francisco arrives at a pivotal moment for mobile gaming. Rising user acquisition costs, platform policy evolution, and the integration of AI across production and LiveOps are forcing studios to rethink established approaches to growth and monetization. The emphasis on diversified revenue models reflects a maturing market where reliance on any single channel carries increasing risk. For developers, the ability to combine IAPs, web shops, and D2C sales into coherent strategies will likely become a competitive differentiator. Xsolla’s participation as Platinum Sponsor signals the company’s commitment to helping studios navigate this complexity, providing both the strategic frameworks discussed at the summit and the commercial infrastructure needed to execute them. As AI continues reshaping everything from game production to player engagement, forums that bring together practitioners to share real-world experience become increasingly valuable.
Conclusion
Xsolla’s Platinum sponsorship of Pocket Gamer Connects Summit San Francisco 2026 brings practical monetization expertise to more than 750 mobile gaming professionals. Through its featured session on building diversified monetization mixes and participation in executive forums, Xsolla addresses the operational complexity facing mobile studios in 2026. For developers seeking sustainable growth amid rising acquisition costs and platform changes, the insights shared at this summit offer actionable frameworks for reducing dependency and increasing player lifetime value.
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About Xsolla
Xsolla is a global commerce company with robust tools and services to help developers solve the inherent challenges of the video game industry. From indie to AAA, companies partner with Xsolla to help them fund, distribute, market, and monetize their games. Grounded in the belief in the future of video games, Xsolla is resolute in the mission to bring opportunities together, and continually make new resources available to creators. Headquartered and incorporated in Los Angeles, California, Xsolla operates as the merchant of record and has helped over 1,500+ game developers to reach more players and grow their businesses around the world. With more paths to profits and ways to win, developers have all the things needed to enjoy the game.
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