The buzz from GDC 2024 has settled, but the insights and discussions we had are still relevant. If you couldn’t attend this year, missed a speaking session, or just want to experience it again, we’ve compiled a recap that includes all seven of our speaking sessions right here. From unpacking key takeaways on the trends shaping the industry right now to exploring the direct-to-consumer landscape and even taking a close look at useful strategies that can help monetize mobile games, our expert-led sessions can provide you with a comprehensive recap of important industry topics that will continue shaping the year ahead.

1. 2024 STATE OF PLAY

Long-time industry veterans Chris Hewish, Xsolla's Chief Strategy Officer, and David Stelzer, Xsolla's President discuss the last five years in the games industry. Learn from their analysis of proprietary and public data – as well as insights from partners and Xsolla’s extensive network of gaming professionals – about the industry’s performance, comparisons to other relevant industries, and upcoming trends and forecasts. Speakers:
Chris Hewish - Chief Strategy Officer, Xsolla
David Stelzer - President, Xsolla Watch now on YouTube

2. DON'T JUST BUILD A GAME, BUILD A BUSINESS

Ron Scott and Jean-Philippe Steinmetz outline the market opportunity of Xsolla Backend, our strategy for democratizing access to high-quality backend technology. Learn about how Xsolla Backend’s features, innovative business model, product roadmap, and more benefit all developer partners as a multi-player, cross-platform play, game systems management, hosting, and analytics platform. Speakers:
Ron Scott - GM Xsolla Backend and SVP Business Development, Xsolla
Jean-Philippe Steinmetz - Head of Xsolla Backend Watch now on YouTube

3. WEATHERING THE STORM: PERSPECTIVES FOR SUCCESS IN DIFFICULT TIMES

In a volatile gaming landscape, the stakes are high for developers seeking success. This panel discussion features investors and publishers still scouting for and signing projects and our leader in funding, Justin Berenbaum, shares crucial insights to help you adapt your projects, secure funding, and launch strategically. Speakers:
Justin Berenbaum - VP, Strategic Planning & GM, Xsolla Funding Club
Boyoung Kim - Investor, Griffin Gaming Partners
Ben Kvalo - Founder & CEO, Midwest Games
Charlotte Cook - Global Commercial Director, Team 17
Anlu Liu - Business Manager, Kowloon Nights Watch now on YouTube

4. MASTER THE ART OF LEVERAGING INFLUENCERS TO STAY AHEAD OF THE GAME

Our lead in influencer partnerships, Sandy Davila, alongside a panel of influencer experts in the games industry unpack the formula behind launching successful creative influencer campaigns as well as ways to adopt partnership best practices to avoid pitfalls commonly made by AAA and indie titles. Speakers:
Sandy Davila - Influencer Partnerships, XPN Program Director, Xsolla
Keelyn Lewis - Chief Operating Officer, Cherry Pick Talent
Tess Thormodsgaard - Head of Marketing, BebopBee, Inc.
Brian Ta - Mobile Gaming Talent Agency, Digital Creative Artists Watch now on YouTube

5. HOW TO WIN AT MOBILE GAMING: PLAY IN APP, PAY ONLINE

Josephine Friday and Berkley Egenes, two experts from Xsolla, outline strategies for winning new users and generating incremental profits when it comes to monetizing and growing mobile games outside the app store. Speakers:
Berkley Egenes - Chief Marketing and Growth Officer, Xsolla
Josephine Friday - US Sales Director, Xsolla Watch now on YouTube

6. DIRECT TO CONSUMER IN 2024: HOW TO CREATE POWERFUL WEB STORE EXPERIENCES

This panel of C-level decision-makers, including Xsolla’s EVP of Global Business Development and Partnerships, Sam Gaglani, highlight the latest news regarding the Digital Markets Act. Explore how you can create a direct-to-consumer strategy that includes a compelling Web Store experience for your users. Speakers:
Sam Gaglani - EVP of Global Business Development & Partnerships at Xsolla
Michael Spieler - VP of Strategy and Corporate Development, Sciplay
Jenna Seiden - SVP of Partnerships at Skydance Interactive
Spencer Tucker - Chief Gaming Officer, Yuga Labs
Michael Lewis - VP of D2C, Take-Two Interactive Watch now on YouTube

7. MASTERING GAME ANALYTICS: UNLOCK YOUR GAME’S FULL POTENTIAL

PRESENTED BY GAMEANALYTICS Allison Bilas, COO of GameAnalytics, presents your roadmap to becoming data-savvy, accelerating your decision-making, and driving your game to be a success. Take a look at key metrics, benchmarks, and optimization strategies that will not only save time and resources but also improve your game’s user experience and profitability. Speaker:
Allison Bilas - COO, GameAnalytics Watch now on YouTube Thanks to all who were part of our GDC 2024 journey this year! If you’d like to learn more about our tools and solutions, or ask one of our experts about the insights you learned from our sessions, just reach out to our experts at business@xsolla.com.