According to McKinsey’s 2022 Digital Payments Consumer Survey, 89% of Americans now use some form of digital payment. The leading reason is convenience—as cited by 41% of users. Another 22% are motivated by loyalty rewards. These habits are shaping expectations across all digital experiences, including gaming. The bottom line? Digital payments are now the default for games. For game developers, this shift means that in-game purchases and microtransactions need to be as smooth and fast as possible —exactly what 1-click checkout delivers.

Why game devs should care about 1-click checkout

Many game developers still rely on outdated, fragmented payment systems. Checkout experiences are often not tailored to gamers' needs, leading to friction and lost conversions. On top of that, global monetization remains a major challenge: managing multiple currencies, taxes, local regulations, and payment preferences requires infrastructure that many game development studios don’t yet have. Even when players want to spend, complex checkout flows, payment declines, and fraud concerns get in the way. These issues lower conversion rates and hurt trust—two critical factors in monetizing free-to-play games. And as the cost of acquiring new users continues to rise, the need for efficient, scalable monetization becomes even more urgent. Retention and engagement are just as important. Cornell research shows that customers who sign up for 1-click checkout spend 28.5% more over time. Making it easier to pay isn’t just about the first purchase—it boosts lifetime value and strengthens loyalty across the board.

What 1-click checkout delivers

1-click checkout dramatically simplifies the purchase process. By removing unnecessary steps, it enables players to complete a transaction with less effort, thereby reducing cart abandonment, shortening checkout time, and improving the overall buying experience—especially on mobile devices, where speed and simplicity are essential. The system also personalizes the experience by remembering preferences, offering localized options, and enabling instant repeat purchases. As a result of such obvious conveniences, players are more likely to spend and return. Industry data shows how powerful this effect can be. Research from Cornell reveals that customers who adopt one-click checkout buy 43% more often, purchase 36% more items, and increase their total spending by nearly 30%. Click-to-pay solutions also cut checkout time in half, according to Jennifer Marriner, Executive Vice President of Global Acceptance Solutions at Mastercard.

How Xsolla Pay makes it easy

Xsolla Pay is a comprehensive, 1-stop checkout service for the gaming industry, combining convenience, security, and support. The product combines with Xsolla Wallet to:

• Simplify payments
• Present new monetization opportunities
• Offer players a more enriching experience

Xsolla Pay allows players to store their preferred payment methods once and then use one-touch payments—with any saved bank card, stored balance, loyalty points, virtual currency, and other Xsolla Wallet funds—across thousands of games. There’s no need to re-enter information, no disruption to gameplay, and no extra steps. It’s a seamless, secure experience designed for how gamers actually pay. Developers are already seeing results! For example, CrazyGames improved its conversion rates by simplifying checkout with Xsolla Pay, demonstrating the real impact of streamlining payments.

Looking ahead

1-click checkout is becoming a baseline expectation for online shoppers. In gaming, where purchase intent can be fleeting and timing is everything, the ability to act instantly makes a measurable difference. Developers who prioritize frictionless payments stand to gain more revenue, stronger retention, and higher player satisfaction. To explore how Xsolla Pay can improve your in-game monetization, schedule a meeting and connect with one of our payment solutions experts to get started.