Xsolla debuts Xsolla Wallet and takes game payments to Africa

Xsolla, a game commerce company, announced Xsolla Wallet to simplify monetization and engagement challenges in games. It also launched digital game payments in Africa.

The company said both ventures highlight its commitment to empowering the global creator economy within the video game industry.

The Xsolla Wallet offers embedded finance options specifically designed for developers and creators. The initiative helps developers overcome monetization and engagement challenges and simplifies the process of providing attractive incentives for creators. It enhances the efficiency and immediacy of their earning and spending experience while ensuring global compliance.

Recognizing the complexities of managing successful global creator programs, Xsolla will help alleviate these pain points, enabling developers to focus on what they do best: creating engaging gaming experiences.

For developers, Xsolla Wallet simplifies access to embedded finance services and streamlines onboarding and compliance, integrating these critical aspects within the creators’ wallet accounts.

It also simplifies creator incentives. Tailored to ease the complexities of managing creator programs, Xsolla Wallet ensures developers can provide attractive and compliant earnings for creators across different regions.

And it eases compliance burdens. With integrated KYC (Know Your Customer) and tax interview services, Xsolla Wallet significantly reduces the complexity associated with global compliance, allowing developers to focus on innovation rather than administrative tasks.

Leveraging the vast reach of the Xsolla gaming ecosystem, developers can use the Xsolla Partner Network (XPN) to attract, manage and incentivize creators and influencers.

Xsolla Wallet empowers creators and influencers to pay, get paid and manage earnings, transforming their content into viable revenue sources.

“By bringing together our expertise and the Xsolla Wallet’s embedded finance functionality, we are bringing developers and creators together in an unparalleled financial ecosystem tailored for video games,” described David Stelzer, president of Xsolla, in a statement. “We aim to provide an equal opportunity for every developer, creator, and influencer to have fast and secure access to ways to monetize their work in the global creator economy.”

Creators will have a direct, immediate, and convenient way to spend their earnings using the Xsolla Mastercard. Creators can choose an instant virtual Xsolla Mastercard, amongst other payout options, to enable easy and immediate access to their earnings.

And creators can seamlessly aggregate their earnings from platforms. This means creators can manage diverse income streams, from merchandise sales to crowdfunding, in their Xsolla Wallet.

“As a long-standing supporter of the video gaming community, Mastercard is thrilled to continue building on our partnership with Xsolla, delivering choice and value to creators and developers alike with the launch of the Xsolla Mastercard,” said Sherri Haymond, EVP of global digital partnerships at Mastercard, in a statement. “Together we’re enabling convenient, seamless payments options that add tools to developers’ toolkits, help solve challenges for creators and foster an inclusive gaming community for all.”

Xsolla Wallet is a key component in a new suite of tools empowering game developers and creators. It reflects Xsolla’s dedication to creating solutions that address content creators’ immediate needs and foster a more supportive and productive environment for their creations through an embedded finance partnership with Paysafe and a card for creators partnership with Mastercard.

“We are proud to strengthen our partnership with Xsolla to provide value and exceed customer expectations with our payment solutions, further enhancing gamers’ playing and payment experience globally,” said Aaron Gale, VP of Sales & Account Management, Video Games at Paysafe, in a statement. “Every gaming experience starts with a payment, and we are dedicated to turning these transactions into part of the overall experience, to fuel the fun and champion customer engagement and loyalty.”

In other news, Xsolla is expanding its presence in Africa by integrating MTN and Airtel mobile money services. This strategic move addresses the unique financial landscape of Africa, where a significant portion of the population, particularly in regions like Ghana and Uganda, remains unbanked.

Mobile money services are pivotal, enabling users to manage funds through mobile devices and circumventing the need for traditional banking infrastructure. This initiative opens up a vast new customer base, leveraging MTN’s 292 million and Airtel’s 147 million users, and simplifies transactions for Xsolla merchants, who can now accept these payment methods effortlessly. It represents a significant leap towards global expansion for game developers, utilizing Pay Station’s comprehensive payment options and wide market reach to deliver a smooth and inclusive payment experience.

David Stelzer, president at Xsolla, said in a statement, “Our efforts to integrate local payment methods are crucial for expanding our reach in Africa, catering to both banked and unbanked users in these emerging markets. Nearly 40 million potential users will benefit from our simplified integration process for developers, enabling them to concentrate on creating engaging gaming experiences while we handle the intricacies of payments, fraud, taxes, and compliance in Africa.”

Key advantages and project expansion

Developers can now connect with Africa’s diverse gaming community, increasing their presence across the continent through localized payment solutions such as 1Voucher in South Africa, FawryPay in Egypt, and mobile wallets like Airtel, MTN, and Vodafone in Ghana and Uganda.

By adopting local payment methods, the transaction process becomes more efficient and user-friendly, aligning with the preferences of African gamers. Access to new markets invites engagement with active and enthusiastic gamers, fostering opportunities for revenue growth.

This initiative not only aims to facilitate smoother transactions and broaden market access for game developers but also signifies a commitment to supporting the growth of Africa’s gaming community and providing developers with essential tools for success in these evolving markets.