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Mastercard and video game commerce company Xsolla teamed up to collaborate on payments for gamers.
They said they will create frictionless, secure and rewarding payments for gamers – from enhanced checkout experiences using credit card loyalty points to simple in-game currency gifts to improved creator payout processes and more.
The partnership combines Mastercard’s technology, network-level expertise, global scale and trusted connections to the Xsolla platform to create customizable and more accessible payment experiences for players, developers and creators.
Mobile devices have fueled the growth of gaming across all demographics and regions, with nearly 3.2 billion people – nearly half of the world’s population – estimated to have played games by 2022. But the digital trading experiences that drive developer innovation in gaming have not kept pace with growth.
Over 40% of consumers say they need help buying in-game currency, and over 30% say it takes too many steps to make online gaming purchases. According to Mastercard research, nearly 30% say the gifting process could be more efficient.
Mastercard and Xsolla will collaborate to enable innovative card and account-based solutions and services to improve digital experiences for gamers in payments and beyond. To kick-start this groundbreaking partnership, Mastercard cardholders can take advantage for the first time Pay with points to seamlessly redeem their loyalty points for in-game purchases – this solution will be integrated into Xsolla’s Pay Station product.
“Mastercard has been a strong supporter of the gaming community for many years – we look forward to further enabling cardholders to tap into their passions through this new partnership with Xsolla and shape the future of gaming commerce,” said Blake Rosenthal , executive vice president of fintech solutions at Mastercard, in a statement. “As mobile devices increase the accessibility of video games, a rewarding, best-in-class digital experience is essential to nurturing a loyal gaming community and building a payment ecosystem that offers choice across platforms and dimensions.”
Players will also have the option to gift in-game currency to friends and family. The companies are working together to solve gaming industry challenges and prioritize consumer protection, including using Mastercard’s authentication and fraud detection capabilities to give parents control before their child makes in-game purchases.
“The partnership with Mastercard is a testament to our commitment to continuous innovation for the benefit of developers and all players around the world,” said Berkley Egenes, chief marketing officer at Xsolla, in a statement. “By combining Xsolla’s payment solution with Mastercard’s loyalty capabilities, cyber solutions, and card and account-based payment technology, we can create new avenues for monetization and higher lifetime value for developers.” We are excited to take this giant step forward in creating a better and more inclusive gaming experience for everyone.”
Players will have the option to redeem loyalty points from participating Mastercard partners for in-game purchases later this year. Xsolla and Mastercard will be demonstrating the Pay with Points solution at the Game Developers Conference 2023 in San Francisco from March 21-24, 2023.
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