Xsolla releases new industry report identifying the biggest opportunities for the future of video games for developers
March 11, 2026•3 min
The latest edition of The Xsolla Report has been released, coinciding with activations and collaborations at the GDC Festival of Gaming 2026 in San Francisco. The latest edition provides insights from working with thousands of studios to map out where the video game industry’s biggest opportunities are emerging.
"The conversation around direct-to-consumer in gaming has fundamentally changed coming out of multiple regulatory changes," said Berkley Egenes, Chief Marketing and Growth Officer at Xsolla. "What began as a tactical revenue diversification play has evolved into a strategic imperative for studios to grow and thrive into the future of live-service games.“
"We're entering a period where the studios with strong foundational commercial infrastructure will outperform those with superior creative execution alone," said Berkley Egenes, Chief Marketing & Growth Officer at Xsolla. "D2C is becoming a table-stakes requirement for ambitious live-service games, and the studios that treat this moment as strategic will be the ones defining the future of mobile gaming success."
Current outlook
The video games industry remains extraordinarily vibrant, and the playbook for success is constantly changing. Studios that are adapting their strategies, embracing direct-to-player commerce, expanding into high-growth global markets, and leveraging AI are driving ahead and building business models that are designed to thrive for years to come. "The economics of game development have and will continue to shift and evolve into the future. Budgets have expanded, player acquisition costs have surged, and traditional publishing models are under increasing strain," said Chris Hewish, President of Xsolla. "We have reached a tipping point where old assumptions no longer hold, and leaders who recognize this shift early will capture disproportionate advantage."
"The conversation around direct-to-consumer in gaming has fundamentally changed coming out of multiple regulatory changes," said Berkley Egenes, Chief Marketing and Growth Officer at Xsolla. "What began as a tactical revenue diversification play has evolved into a strategic imperative for studios to grow and thrive into the future of live-service games.“
What’s inside this edition’s report
The report outlines a clear roadmap for what leaders should prioritize next, whether that’s building for modularity and faster development cycles, investing in owned audience infrastructure, or turning compliance into a competitive advantage as global markets open up.Key insights from the report
- Leading game companies are already generating 15–45% of total revenue through D2C web shops, yielding up to 25% more profit per transaction compared to platform-based purchases
- High-growth markets like Turkey (13% CAGR), India (11%), and Southeast Asia (6%) represent the industry's most exciting expansion opportunities through 2029
- AI is delivering real operational gains, compressing development timelines by roughly 20% and reducing support costs by approximately 40%
- "Platform omnivore" gamers who play across consoles, PC, and mobile now represent 43% of US gamers, up from 30%, creating new pathways for studios to reach players wherever they are
- Titles with sustainable live service models continue to grow, with PUBG: Battlegrounds reaching approximately 75 million Steam users and Roblox on Xbox climbing to nearly 30 million owners
- The April 2025 U.S. court ruling allowing in-app linking to external offers has opened the door for developers to engage players across channels like never before
What the data tells us
Direct-to-consumer is reshaping the games industry: publishers are building deeper relationships with players beyond app stores, expanding into fast-growing global markets, and using AI to drive efficiency across development, marketing, and live operations."We're entering a period where the studios with strong foundational commercial infrastructure will outperform those with superior creative execution alone," said Berkley Egenes, Chief Marketing & Growth Officer at Xsolla. "D2C is becoming a table-stakes requirement for ambitious live-service games, and the studios that treat this moment as strategic will be the ones defining the future of mobile gaming success."
Why it matters
Packed with expert interviews, visual data, and actionable takeaways, The Xsolla Report serves as your strategic roadmap for navigating the months ahead. Whether you’re exploring new monetization models, optimizing your go-to-market strategy, or expanding globally, this report is your essential playbook for success. Download the full report now: https://xsolla.com/the-xsolla-reportFeatured articles
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