Despite the rise in the popularity of web shops, developers still have questions about the best strategy for launching and operating a successful shop. There are three implementation strategies for your web shop: Instant Web Shop, LiveOps Web Shop, and Web Portal. Which one you choose depends on the game and web shop goals. In this article, we briefly describe each implementation option. And after we’ll dive into details with separate articles dedicated to all options. Understanding your game and the different types of web shops is key to building, and growing your D2C monetization plan.

3 types of web shops

There are three implementation strategies to choose from: Instant Web Shop, LiveOps Web Shop, and Web Portal. Which approach you choose depends on the goals you have for your game’s monetization. In this article, we briefly describe each implementation option. In future posts, we’ll dive into each option’s details. Instant Web Shop Instant Web Shop offers a pre-built online store that you can customize to look and feel like an extension of your mobile game. Players can purchase in-game items and/or in-game currency with exciting extras. Choose this implementation if:

• You monetize your game via currency packs.
• You don’t host any seasonal events or tournaments.
• You have limited internal resources to launch and maintain a Web Shop.
• Your company’s stakeholders resist selling on the web.

Here's what makes Instant Web Shop a good choice:

• Ready-to-use template: The pre-designed templates will parse your game assets, catalog, and prices. Your web store can be launched in less time.
• Evergreen packs: currency or items that are always available for purchase with added value in comparison with in-game.
• Quick earnings: save up to 25% in platform fees.
• Focus on your game: No development and maintenance resources are needed, freeing up your team for other projects.
• Minimum investment: Instant Web Shop is a strategic way to counter internal resistance from company stakeholders and obtain group buy-in.

This translates to increased revenue with minimal effort – a win for you and your players! And, when the value of Instant Web Shop is obvious, it’s time to level up to a more robust strategy — LiveOps Web Shop. LiveOps Web Shop In comparison with the Instant Web Shop, a Web Shop with LiveOps includes support for a wide range of promotional features, seasonal events, exclusive content, and other live operation stories. You should consider implementing a LiveOps Web Shop if:

• Monetization within your game is complicated and multilevel.
• You promote seasonal events and content updates.
• You have an internal LiveOps team with the time and skills to launch and maintain the shop.
• Your main focus is long-term revenue.

The main distinctions of a Web Shop with LiveOps are:

• Implementation of multiple monetization mechanics that incentivize first and repeat purchases, focusing on building a habit of buying on the web (examples include initial purchase offers, time and quantity limits, free items, reward chains, and much more.)
• Event-based content that is regularly updated and synchronized with your in-game events.
• A LiveOps team that manages and maintains your Web Shop.
• A well-built LiveOps Web Shop generates incremental revenue and increases user LTV. Achieve > 10% increase in user LTV and more than a 60% repeated purchase rate.

Web Portal A LiveOps web shop can be scaled to a Web Portal or custom-built by Xsolla from scratch. The portal version of Web Shop is a dedicated platform that provides players with a centralized space to discover upcoming in-game events, access exclusive content, and enrich their gaming experience simultaneously building the out-of-game communication channel. You should choose a web portal if:

• Your game has a strong and active player community
• You already launched a game website
• You host seasonal events and tournaments.

A Web Portal functions as your official website and motivates players to repeatedly visit in order to find the best web shop deals. You can redirect players within a game to the web directly without violating platform guidance.

Conclusion

The type of Web Shop you choose depends on the goals you have in mind for your game:

• Instant Web Shop helps to launch quickly and save on platform fees.
• LiveOps Web Shop generates incremental revenue by synchronizing with your game and its events.
• Web Portal strengthens your player metrics with the help of a strong community and a more seamless user flow.

In upcoming posts, we'll discuss each implementation route in detail, how to understand which option to choose, the essential features, what drives players' motivation, how to retain and engage players, and some of the attributes and peculiarities of integration and maintenance. Xsolla’s monetization specialists are always here for you. We’re happy to analyze your game and recommend the best implementation route to fit your goals and your players' expectations.

How Xsolla can help you today

If you’re ready to quickly create a new Web Shop or expand an existing one, schedule a time to talk with one of Xsolla’s experts. We are a video game-savvy market leader and preferred Merchant of Record.