Development
Xsolla takes the stage at Austin’s live service gaming events
April 23, 2026•4 min
As the games industry grapples with the future of live service models, Xsolla is stepping into the conversation at two back-to-back events in Austin, Texas. With a presence at both GamesBeat Engage: Austin and Live Service Gaming Austin, the company is helping lead critical discussions around sustainability, monetization, and the evolving expectations of players. From moderating debates to joining executive panels, Xsolla’s involvement signals more than mere attendance; it reflects a deeper role in shaping how live-service games evolve in an increasingly complex market.
A defining moment for live service gaming
Over the past decade, live service models have transformed how games are built and experienced. What was once a single product launch has become an ongoing relationship between developers and players driven by continuous updates, seasonal content, and community engagement.
But that model is now under pressure. Rising development costs, increased competition, and shifting player expectations are forcing studios to reconsider whether the “always-on” approach is still sustainable. Questions around player fatigue, retention challenges, and monetization strategies are becoming central to industry conversations.
The Austin events arrive at a timely moment, creating space for developers, publishers, and technology leaders to assess what comes next.
Debate, discussion, and industry introspection
At GamesBeat Engage: Austin, Xsolla’s Business Development Executive Anthony Mendoza will moderate a featured debate titled “Do Large and Small Studios Need to Approach Live Service Differently?”
The session will explore whether continuous content, analytics, and community management demands have made the model viable only for large publishers, or if smaller studios can leverage creative efficiency and leaner operations to compete. Mendoza will be joined by Andrew Ice, SVP of Games at Zynga.
The evening will also feature a debate on whether the live service model has made games better or just longer, moderated by GamesBeat’s Alexander Lee with Warren Spector, Co-Founder and CCO of OtherSide Entertainment, and Jack Emmert, CEO of Cryptic Studios, followed by a fireside chat with Paul Sams, COO of Certain Affinity, on whether subscriptions, microtransactions, or an entirely new model will define the next generation of live service revenue.
Rethinking audience and monetization strategies
The conversation continues at Live Service Gaming Austin, where Artem Liubutov, Executive VP of Monetization Products at Xsolla, will join the Day 2 opening panel.
Titled Evolving Expectations: Navigating Shifts in Live Service Audience, Definition, and Strategy,” the session explores how studios are adapting to a rapidly changing landscape.
Key themes include audience diversification, data-driven decision-making, and the future of monetization, spanning in-game advertising, subscriptions, and direct-to-consumer models.
As player behavior becomes less predictable and more fragmented, studios are being pushed to rethink not just how they monetize, but how they build long-term engagement.
The infrastructure behind always-on games
Behind these discussions is a fundamental challenge: how to operate live service games efficiently at scale.
Xsolla’s platform is designed to address exactly that. Its Web Shop ecosystem has evolved into a fully integrated, direct-to-consumer solution tailored for mobile and live service environments. With hundreds of web shops already launched—including many tied to top-grossing games the system connects payments, LiveOps, and player engagement tools into a unified workflow.
Features such as personalized offers, loyalty programs, subscriptions, and A/B testing enable developers to continuously refine the player experience while maintaining full ownership of their user data.
In an industry where success increasingly depends on adaptability, this level of integration is becoming essential.
A broader shift in the live service model
Xsolla’s presence across both Austin events highlights a larger industry transition. Live service gaming is no longer just about extending a game’s lifespan; it’s about building sustainable ecosystems around players.
“Live service gaming is at an inflection point,” said Berkley Egenes, Chief Marketing and Growth Officer at Xsolla. “These conversations are about the real challenges studios face right now.”
As developers gather in Austin, one thing is clear: the future of live service games won’t be defined by a single model, but by how well studios can adapt to changing expectations, balancing engagement, monetization, and operational reality.
And increasingly, those conversations are happening not just behind closed doors, but on stage.
Want to learn more about how Xsolla can help your game reach players worldwide? Schedule a meeting with an Xsolla expert today!
“Live service gaming is at an inflection point,” said Berkley Egenes, Chief Marketing and Growth Officer at Xsolla. “These conversations are about the real challenges studios face right now.”
As developers gather in Austin, one thing is clear: the future of live service games won’t be defined by a single model, but by how well studios can adapt to changing expectations, balancing engagement, monetization, and operational reality.
And increasingly, those conversations are happening not just behind closed doors, but on stage.
Want to learn more about how Xsolla can help your game reach players worldwide? Schedule a meeting with an Xsolla expert today!Featured articles
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