Developer Scholarship Program Terms And Condition

Program Description: The Program is designated to support the global video games industry. The Program applicants will get a chance to receive certain benefits (“Scholarship’) according to the terms and conditions below. The validity period of the Program will be determined by Xsolla at its discretion. The Program and any Scholarship awarded hereunder constitute an educational and professional development opportunity and shall not be considered, interpreted, or administered as a sweepstakes, contest, lottery, or other game of chance. No element of chance, random drawing, or luck is used at any stage in the selection of Scholarship Recipients. Scholarship Recipients are selected solely on the basis of merit, qualifications, and the evaluation of submitted materials by a review committee designated by Xsolla. Participation in the Program does not require any purchase, payment, or other form of monetary consideration. The application process requires only standard information and materials reasonably necessary to assess eligibility and merit, and does not require any performance, effort, or task that may be deemed burdensome consideration under applicable law. The Scholarship is not a prize, reward, or promotional giveaway, but a discretionary grant of professional development support. The Program is intended to support the global video game development community and is offered at Xsolla’s sole discretion. Nothing in these Rules shall be construed to suggest that the Program involves gambling, games of chance, prize promotions, or any activity regulated as such under federal, state, or international law.

Eligibility: The Program is open to applications from individuals and entities (“Entrant(s)”). Entrants must be 18 years of age or older as of their date of application submission in order to qualify. If you are applying on behalf of an entity, you hereby irrevocably confirm and agree, that you are duly authorized to represent such entity and bind this entity to this agreement. The Program is subject to federal, state, and local laws and regulations and void where prohibited by law. Entrants may not be residents of, or otherwise located in, any country or territory subject to comprehensive U.S. trade or economic sanctions, or any other jurisdiction where participation is prohibited by applicable law. Please note that any other eligibility requirements will be provided in the Program description. Upon Xsolla’s or the Game Developers Conference organizers’ (“GDC organizers”) request, the Entrant shall confirm their eligibility by providing valid government-issued identification, including but not limited to a passport or driver’s license. Furthermore, each Entrant is solely responsible for obtaining and maintaining any and all visas, travel authorizations, or other documents legally required to enter the United States and attend GDC. By applying to the Program, the Entrant represents and warrants that they possess, or will timely obtain, all necessary travel documentation. Failure to provide such documentation upon request may result in disqualification from the Program and forfeiture of any Scholarship awarded.

Sponsorship. The organizer of the Program is Xsolla (USA), Inc., located at 15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 2230, Sherman Oaks, California, 91403 USA. Please note that 4. 5. 6. certain benefits of the Program may be provided, fulfilled, or otherwise administered directly by third parties, including but not limited to the GDC organizers. Xsolla does not control, and shall not be responsible or liable for, any third-party benefits, services, decisions, fulfillment, or actions, nor for any changes, cancellations, substitutions, or failures by such third parties to provide the applicable benefits. All third-party terms, conditions, and requirements shall apply in addition to these Rules, and the Entrant acknowledges that receipt of such benefits is subject to the third party’s policies and availability.

Agreement to Rules: By applying for the Program, you agree to abide by these Official Rules and Xsolla’s decisions, which are fully and unconditionally binding in all respects. Please note that a binding agreement is formed between you and Xsolla when you apply for the Program. Xsolla reserves the right to refuse, withdraw, or disqualify any entry or application at any time at the Xsolla’s sole discretion. By applying to the Program you represent and warrant that you are eligible to participate based on eligibility requirements explained hereto. You also agree to accept the decisions of Xsolla as final and binding as they govern or relate to the Program.

Entry Period: Applications are planned to be accepted in Q4 2025, provided, however, that the precise entry period will be determined by Xsolla at its sole discretion (“Entry Period”) and be informed to potential participants. To be eligible to apply to the Program, applications must be received by Xsolla within the specified Entry Period.

How to Enter: There is NO PURCHASE NECESSARY to participate in the Program. In order to apply to the Program, you need to follow the steps described at the applicable Program webpage. Below are the general entrance requirements and the details required from the Entrant to apply to the Program:

a) A gameplay video of the Entrant’s game with a duration between thirty (30) seconds and sixty (60) seconds;
b) The name of the Entrant’s studio, or confirmation that the Entrant is applying as an independent developer;
c) The Entrant’s full legal name (only one individual may apply per studio);
d) The official name of the game submitted for consideration;
e) The Entrant’s physical address and location;
f) A written statement explaining why the Entrant is applying for the Scholarship and what they hope to gain from attending GDC, not to exceed one thousand (1,000) characters;
g) Certification that the Entrant possesses all rights, licenses, permissions and authority necessary to submit the game and all related materials included in the application;
h) Agreement that Xsolla may use all submitted materials for marketing and promotional purposes in accordance with Section 9 of these Rules;
i) Any other information or materials requested by Xsolla in connection with the Program.


“Certification” for the purposes of these Rules shall mean the Entrant’s formal, binding confirmation, representation, and warranty that they possess all rights, licenses, permissions, and authority necessary to submit the game and all related materials included in the application, and that such submission does not infringe or violate any third-party rights, contracts, or applicable laws, which can be accompanied, without limitation, with certificates of copyright, trademark registration, work-for-hire agreements and other documents governing the intellectual property rights matters.


By the default each Entrant is limited to one (1) application. Please note that applications that are incomplete, garbled, corrupted, fraudulent, or unintelligible for any reason, including, but not limited to, computer or network malfunction or congestion, are void and will not be accepted. Incomplete applications or those that do not adhere to the Official Rules or specifications will be disqualified at Xsolla’s sole discretion.

Scholarship Description and Recipient Selection: The Scholarship includes:
Festival Pass to GDC 2026;

• A four-night hotel stay (March 8 - March 12, 2026 or March 09 - March 13, 2026 nights) at a hotel selected by GDC.;
• Invitation to attend the Program Meet Up at The Xsolla Clubhouse on Wednesday of GDC Week;
• Introduction to the Xsolla Funding, Marketing, Integration and Custom Success Teams;
• Xsolla Swag for the GDC 2026 experience.
  
  
  

Xsolla will create a committee of industry experts which will select Entrants who will receive the Scholarship (“Scholarship Recipient”). Please note that:

• The Scholarship Recipient’s selection will be made based on the reviewed applications and Entrant’s qualifications, and not on the random chance basis;
• The sponsorship benefits outlined herein are subject to modification by Xsolla, and the final number of Scholarship Recipients will be determined at Xsolla’s sole discretion.
  
  
  

For the avoidance of doubt, the Scholarship includes only the specific benefits expressly listed herein. Any and all additional costs, expenses, or obligations not explicitly stated as included, such as without limitation travel, transportation, visas, meals, insurance, and any other incidental or personal expenses, shall be solely the responsibility of the Scholarship Recipient and shall be borne at their own expense. Xsolla shall have no liability or obligation to reimburse or cover any such costs.

Scholarship Rules and Limitations: The Scholarship granted is personal to the Scholarship Recipient and is non-transferable, non-assignable, and non-exchangeable for cash, credit, or any other form of monetary compensation. The Scholarship cannot be resold, substituted, or combined with any other offers unless explicitly authorized in writing by Xsolla. Scholarship does not constitute a cash equivalent, gift card, and no refunds or credits can be issued for any unused portion of the Scholarship. Xsolla reserves the right to revoke or modify Scholarship in cases of misuse, fraud, or violation of program terms. The Scholarship Recipient is solely responsible for any or all tax and related obligations arising from the receipt of the Scholarship. Xsolla will not reimburse any costs or expenses that the Entrant or the Scholarship Recipient may incur in connection with the Program or the receipt of the Scholarship. Please note that the Scholarship expires if not used during the Program validity period. Scholarship Recipients may be required to submit applicable tax documentation (including but not limited to IRS Form W-9 for U.S. recipients or Form W-8BEN for non-U.S. recipients) as a condition of receiving or retaining the Scholarship. Failure to provide such documentation upon request may result in forfeiture of the Scholarship. By the default the Scholarship cannot be combined with other promotions, offers, or financial aid, if otherwise is not decided by Xsolla at its discretion.


The following additional Scholarship rules will apply:

• The Festival Pass and hotel accommodation are complimentary and will be provided by the GDC organizers as part of the Scholarship. They cannot be exchanged, sold, or transferred for any other pass type, monetary value, or alternative accommodations. Badge sharing at GDC is forbidden;
• Requests to swap the hotel booking for a different hotel, adjust the length of stay, or receive compensation in lieu of the hotel stay will not be accommodated;
• Any incidentals, such as room service, parking, or other hotel charges, are the responsibility of the Scholarship Recipient;
• If the Scholarship Recipient wishes to extend stay beyond the four nights provided, the Scholarship Recipient must arrange and cover the cost of the additional nights directly with the hotel at the Scholarship Recipient’s expense;
• A valid credit card will be required at hotel check-in to cover any incidentals or extended nights. The hotel may place a hold of at least fifty U.S. dollars (USD $50) per night, which will be released a few days after check-out if no incidentals are charged. Xsolla and GDC organizers are not responsible for any holds, charges, overdraft fees, or financial impacts related to the credit card guarantee. It is the sole responsibility of the Scholarship Recipient to ensure they are capable of providing a valid credit card at check-in. Failure to present such a card may result in the hotel refusing accommodation. In case of such failure the Scholarship Recipient shall be solely responsible for securing alternative accommodation at their own expense;
• The Scholarship Recipients are expected to fully participate in the GDC 2026 conference experience. Misuse or resale of the pass will result in revocation of Scholarship benefits and future eligibility.
• Government issued ID is required to check into the hotel. For San Francisco hotels check-in, the minimum age is 18. The check-in name provided during the application process must match the Scholarship Recipient’s legal name exactly as it appears on their government-issued identification (e.g., passport, driver’s license). Inconsistencies may result in hotel check-in refusal. Such personal data is collected, controlled, and processed solely by the hotel in accordance with its own privacy policies and applicable laws. Xsolla does not collect, control, access, or store any personal data provided to the hotel for check-in or accommodation purposes and shall not be liable for any acts, omissions, data processing activities, breaches, or policies of the hotel or any other third-party service provider.

Rights and licenses granted: By applying to the Program or receiving the Scholarship, the Entrant and the Scholarship Recipient hereby grant Xsolla the right and permission to use their likeness, name, business information, application materials, logos, trademarks, and tradenames (collectively, “Data”) for promotional, marketing, and advertising purposes, in any media now known or later developed, on a free-of-charge basis. By applying to the Program, you understand and agree that Xsolla, any individual acting on the Xsolla’s behalf, and the licensees, successors, and assigns of the Xsolla shall, where permitted by law, have the right to print, publish, broadcast, distribute and use in any media known now or hereafter developed, in perpetuity, worldwide, and without limitation, the Data, statements regarding your participation in Program, your feedbacks for news, publicity, advertising, promotional purposes, trade, information, and public relations without any further notice, review, consent, compensation, or remuneration. You hereby warrant and guarantee that such information and Data are compliant to any applicable laws, they do not violate any third-party’s rights, and there are no statutory or contractual restrictions to disclose or otherwise utilize them. You understand and agree that in case these warranties are invalid or breached you will reimburse any related damages incurred by Xsolla. IMPORTANT. The Entrants and the Scholarship Recipients agree to provide any information required by Xsolla as per applicable laws.

Scholarship Recipient Notification: Xsolla will notify each Scholarship Recipient if they are eligible for the Scholarship via email or other communications channels at Xsolla’s discretion. Xsolla is not responsible for nor shall have any liability for the Scholarship Recipient’s failure to receive notices due to email security settings that may cause notifications to be marked as spam or junk email or for any other reasons. Nor shall Xsolla be liable for the Scholarship Recipient’s provision of incorrect or otherwise non-functioning contact information. If no response or acknowledgment is received from the Scholarship Recipient on the Scholarship acceptance and GDC attendance within seven (7) calendar days from the date the notification is sent, the Scholarship will be deemed void and forfeited without further notice, and Xsolla may select an alternative recipient at its sole discretion.

Entrants’ obligations:
a) The Entrants shall meet the specified eligibility criteria described here to to apply to the Program;
b) The Entrants shall provide accurate, complete, and up-to-date information in the applications. Any false or misleading information may result in disqualification from the Program and forfeiture of any Scholarship received; c) The Entrants shall adhere to all rules, guidelines, and instructions provided by Xsolla regarding the Program;
d) If awarded the Scholarship, the Entrants shall complete the Program as per the agreed schedule, participate in all required assignments or projects of the Program;
e) If awarded the Scholarship, the Entrants shall make press releases, provide feedbacks in social media regarding the Program to be agreed with and approved by Xsolla on a prior basis;
f) The Entrants must comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and institutional policies.;
g) The Entrants must conduct themselves professionally and respectfully throughout the Program and prevent any dishonesty, misconduct, harassment or disruptive behavior towards other Entrants, Xsolla or any third-parties; Failure to comply with these obligations may result in removal from the Program and loss of the awarded Scholarship.

General Terms: In its sole discretion, Xsolla reserves the right to modify, suspend, cancel, or terminate the Program or Scholarship should non-authorized human intervention, a bug or virus, fraud, force majeure events or other causes beyond Xsolla’s control, impact or corrupt the security, fairness, proper conduct, or administration of the Program. Individuals who tamper with or attempt to tamper with the operation or entry process of the Program or violate these Official Rules, will be disqualified by Xsolla in its sole discretion. In its sole discretion, Xsolla has the right to maintain the integrity of the Program, to void applications for any or no reason, including, but not limited to: multiple applications from the same Entrant; multiple applications from the same computer beyond the number allowed by the Program rules; the use of bots, macros, scripts, or other technical means for entering. Attempts by any Entrant to deliberately damage any website or undermine the legitimate operation of the Program may be a violation of criminal and civil laws. If any such attempt is made, Xsolla reserves the right to seek damages to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Indemnity and Limitation of Liability: Your application to the Program constitutes your agreement to release and hold harmless Xsolla and its subsidiaries, representatives, affiliates, partners, advertising and promotion agencies, successors, agents, assigns, directors, employees, and officers against and from any and all claims, liability, illness, injury, death, litigation, loss, or damages that may occur, directly or indirectly from participation in the Program. Xsolla is entitled to postpone or cancel the Program or the Scholarship and terminate these Rules at any time at its sole discretion for any or no reason. Furthermore, please note that the Game Developers Conference can be cancelled for reasons beyond Xsolla’s control. In such an event, the Program will be automatically cancelled as well. For the avoidance of doubt, Xsolla will not be liable for any postponement or cancelation of the Program and termination of these Rules. Under any circumstances and to the maximum extent permitted by law, in no event shall Xsolla’s total liability whether in contract, tort (including negligence), or otherwise, exceed one hundred U.S. dollars (USD $100), regardless of the cause of action or theory of liability.

Disputes: The Program is governed by the laws of the State of California, USA, without giving effect to any principles that may provide for the application of the law of another jurisdiction. In the event of any controversy, claim or dispute among the parties concerning or arising from this Agreement (including its subject matter, the relationship created or its breach or alleged breach) (a “Dispute”), the Parties shall meet at a mutually agreeable time, not more than five (5) business days from written notice by either Party of the existence of such Dispute, and shall attempt in good faith to resolve such Dispute without resorting to arbitration. Should the Parties fail to reach a mutually agreeable settlement of any such Dispute within thirty (30) days or such additional period as mutually agreed, such Dispute shall be resolved by binding arbitration by a single arbitrator (who will be chosen by Xsolla and who cannot have any conflicts of interest) in Los Angeles County, California in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association, and judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. Each Party will be responsible for his/her/its share of any administrative and arbitrator fees and expenses as described under the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association, and each Party shall bear his/her/its own legal expenses related to the arbitration, including, but not limited to, attorneys’ fees. Nonetheless, the prevailing party in such arbitration shall be entitled to an award of his/her/its reasonable attorney’s fees and costs, in addition to damages owed as determined by the arbitrator. Nothing in this Section precludes Xsolla from seeking injunctive relief to enforce the terms of this Agreement. All claims and disputes arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be resolved on an individual basis only and not on a collective, representative, or class basis. The Parties expressly waive any right to bring or participate in any class action, class arbitration, or other representative action or proceeding. No claim may be joined or consolidated with any other claim, and the parties agree that they may bring claims against each other only in their individual capacities. THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY WAIVE THEIR RIGHT TO HAVE ANY DISPUTE BETWEEN OR AMONG THEM RESOLVED IN A COURT OF LAW AND WAIVE THEIR RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY WITH RESPECT TO ANY SUCH DISPUTE. IN THE EVENT THAT SUCH DISPUTE, NOTWITHSTANDING THE OTHER PROVISIONS HEREOF, PROCEEDS IN A COURT OF LAW, THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY CONSENT TO A BENCH TRIAL BEFORE THE JUDGE PRESIDING, WITH THE JUDGE ACTING AS TRIER OF FACT.

Data Protection Statement. Xsolla processes personal data that we receive either from you or in connection with the Program. Please note that any data processing and data protection matters are governed by our Privacy Policy. In case of any discrepancies between these Rules and the Privacy Policy in terms regarding the data processing and data protection matters, the Privacy Policy shall prevail.


(i) We process or use the types of personal data listed below for the following purposes:
a) To implement and conduct the Program and/or your participation in it we need your e-mail, name, links to your social media profiles.
b) Xsolla may use your email address to provide information about the Program. You will only receive information relating to the Program updates and important information that may affect you as an Entrant. You can withdraw your consent by contacting us at [email protected] or [email protected].
c) Xsolla processes and stores your personal data as long as this is necessary for its contractual or legal obligations - in this specific case it means that as long as you participate in the Program, or as long as Xsolla has your consent.
(ii) Xsolla may share your personal data with selected third parties when necessary for the administration and execution of the Program. Such sharing will be conducted in compliance with applicable data protection laws.
(iii) Any affected person has the right of access, the right to rectification, the right to erasure, the right to restrict processing, the right to object and the right to transfer their personal data and other rights under applicable data protection, data privacy and cybersecurity laws, rules and regulations, including, but not limited to Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 (the “GDPR”), the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (the “CCPA”). To exercise any of these rights, please contact Xsolla via the following emails : [email protected] or [email protected].
(iv) Xsolla retains ownership over all feedback and suggestions Xsolla receives in connection with the Program. To the extent that you voluntarily provide any feedback, suggestions, or improvements to the Program and/or Xsolla products and services, you acknowledge that you are assigning your rights to the same.

Amendment. Xsolla may change these Official Rules from time to time at its sole discretion. The changes will become effective when published. If you have any questions regarding the Scholarship, these Official Rules or any other additional information, please email us at [email protected].