The way mobile games generate revenue is evolving—and developers now have a new opportunity to take back control. Following an April 2025 U.S. court ruling that prohibits Apple from blocking external payment links or charging commissions on third-party storefronts, developers can now offer alternative payment options from within their mobile apps. This pivotal change enables a new model of direct monetization—one that empowers studios to connect with players more directly and retain more of what they earn. To help developers act quickly, Xsolla has introduced the Buy Button for mobile games, a new direct-to-consumer solution within the Xsolla Web Shop platform. With minimal integration effort, developers can start offering secure, seamless purchases of virtual currency, items, and content through a branded, browser-based checkout experience launched directly from their mobile game.

How it works

With just a few clicks, developers can now embed a Buy Button within their mobile game that leads US players to a streamlined browser-based checkout, powered by Xsolla Web Shop and Xsolla Pay Station. This experience supports the sale of virtual items, currencies, bundles, and more. Players enjoy a frictionless purchase journey—complete with autofill and one-tap options—while developers enjoy the freedom to retain up to 30% more revenue compared to traditional app store transactions.

Key benefits of the Xsolla Buy Button

Let’s take a closer look at what this shift truly means for your business—and how it can open new paths for growth, flexibility, and player engagement.

• Zero Platform Commission: Reclaim up to 30% of your revenue by saving on platform fees, minus standard payment processing costs.
• Implementation: Under the April 2025 U.S. court ruling, developers can connect external payment links in-app with no platform interference.
• Frictionless One-Tap Purchase Flow: Players can purchase specific items directly from in-game offers using autofill and one-tap methods, delivering a seamless checkout experience native to the game.
• Simplified Tax and Compliance: Xsolla is the Merchant of Record, handling global tax calculation, collection, and remittance. Third-party tax solutions are unnecessary.
• Loyalty and Player Rewards: Boost retention and engagement with loyalty programs and personalized reward options tied to player behavior within the game experience, whether in-app or online. It also enables issuing prepaid gift cards and parental control integration for all purchases.
• LiveOps Sync: Align web-based promotions with in-game events, seasonal content, and player achieved milestones to maximize relevancy and impact of the offers provided to players.
• Parental Control and Gift Cards: Built-in parental control and gift cards checkout available worldwide.
• Multi-Channel Commerce: Extend monetization beyond the app to the web, Discord, Telegram, and other community channels where players engage.

Faster payments with Apple Pay

In order to ensure the best payment experience for customers through Buy Button for Mobile Games, we recommend using Apple Pay with a native payment flow. The simplified one-click payment process reduces friction, minimizing drop-offs during checkout and ensuring more completed transactions. To enable Apple Pay in Web Shop, make sure your domain is whitelisted — refer to the setup instructions and contact the Xsolla integration team at integration@xsolla.com to activate the feature. Alternatively, you can use the Xsolla Mobile SDK, where Apple Pay is enabled by default. Integration guide:
https://developers.xsolla.com/doc/pay-station/features/one-click-payment

A turning point for developers

This ruling isn’t just a legal win—it’s a strategic turning point. The Xsolla Buy Button offers a scalable, sustainable monetization path for mobile game developers in the U.S. and worldwide. For the first time, you can build deeper connections with players, expand your revenue streams, and do it all with speed, security, and full control. The Buy Button is available now via the Xsolla Web Shop. Developers can get started quickly using the Instant Web Shop template, generate custom links within minutes, and go live—no custom coding required.

Ready to take control?

This is your moment to reshape how you monetize and grow. Whether you’re an indie developer or an established studio, the Buy Button gives you the tools to scale revenue, build loyalty, and engage players—your way. Create your Xsolla Publisher Account today, and start building a more flexible, future-ready commerce experience for your game. The tools are here. The opportunity is real. Let’s build what’s next—together. Web Shop integration guide: https://developers.xsolla.com/solutions/web-shop Buy Button for Mobile Games integration guide: https://developers.xsolla.com/solutions/web-shop/other/instant-purchase Mobile SDK integration guide: https://developers.xsolla.com/solutions/payments/other/in-app-payments-on-ios