Xsolla: Powering the Future of Play — One Developer at a Time
Few companies have influenced the business of gaming quite like Xsolla. From payment systems to full-scale commerce infrastructure, it’s become the quiet engine behind how games reach and engage players across the world.
We sat down with a member of Xsolla’s leadership team to explore the company’s journey, its culture, and its vision for the next evolution of play.
You’ve been part of the gaming world’s evolution for quite some time. When you look back, what moments stand out as turning points for Xsolla?
There are a few, but the launch of Xsolla Web Shop was the one that changed everything. It wasn’t just another product; it redefined how developers connect with players. Before that, mobile creators were locked into the limits of app stores. Web Shop gave them the freedom to sell directly to their communities.
What started as a tool quickly became a movement. We’ve now supported over 600 Web Shops, helping partners generate more than $3 billion in additional revenue. Another big moment came when we transitioned from being seen as a “payments company” to a full-scale commerce engine for games. That opened the door for us to handle fraud, tax, compliance, LiveOps, and distribution, empowering developers to scale without compromise.
Every company claims to support creators, but Xsolla seems to have built its identity around that idea. What does real support look like from your perspective?
Real support isn’t a slogan—it’s a commitment. It means doing the heavy lifting so developers can focus on what they do best. We take care of fraud prevention, chargebacks, tax management, and customer support. We operate in more than 200 countries, offer over 1,000 localized payment methods, and provide live assistance in 25 languages.
And we never charge upfront. We only win when our partners do. Whether it’s helping an indie team launch a store in 24 hours or supporting an AAA studio with full-scale LiveOps, we adapt to their needs instead of forcing a one-size-fits-all model.
The business of gaming is getting more complex every year—payments, compliance, distribution, monetization. How do you make things simpler for creators?
Simplicity is what we obsess over.
As a Merchant of Record, we manage everything behind the scenes _ global payments, taxes, fraud protection, user support so developers only need one trusted partner.
Our no-code tools also change the game. A team can launch campaigns, build stores, or open direct-to-consumer portals without writing a single line of code. Simplicity, for us, is giving creators their time back and removing friction so creativity can flow freely.
Chris Hewish, President
Technology evolves at breakneck speed—AI, blockchain, cloud gaming. How do you decide what’s worth pursuing and what’s just hype?
We follow need, not noise. If a new technology delivers measurable value for developers or players right now, that’s where we put our energy.
AI, for instance, has already shown its impact personalized recommendations in Web Shops have lifted average revenue per paying user by over 35%. That’s value today. Cloud gaming is another promising frontier; it’s redefining access, and we’re helping developers take advantage with flexible payment tools and infrastructure.
Blockchain still has potential, but we’re patient. Once it genuinely supports ownership, secure digital economies, and trust, we’ll be ready to move.
Xsolla operates globally, yet every market has its own culture. How do you stay relevant everywhere without losing your identity?
We localize operations but globalize our principles. Each region has its own payment systems, currencies, and regulations, that’s why we support 130 currencies, over 1,000 payment options, and localized service. But our core personality never changes.
We stay calm, strategic, and deeply loyal to developers. We like to think of ourselves as the current beneath the surface, powering everything quietly while letting our partner’s shine.
If someone walked into Xsolla’s offices tomorrow, what would you want them to feel?
Curiosity, focus, and purpose. Across our global offices—from Los Angeles to Kuala Lumpur—you’d sense a shared drive: to remove barriers for developers.
Our people are empowered to think like entrepreneurs. There’s freedom to experiment, but also discipline around outcomes that matter better tools, better results, better support.
We believe in clarity without control. Teams understand the “why,” have ownership over the “how,” and are supported by systems that remove obstacles. Some of our best ideas have come from junior engineers and support staff, and we love that.
Xsolla often talks about fairness and sustainability for developers. What does that mean in real terms?
It means developers keep more of what they earn and spend less time managing risk. We don’t charge upfront fees. Our fraud protection has a 60%-win rate, directly protecting our partners’ revenue.
Fairness also means equal access. Whether you’re a two-person studio or a global brand, you get the same tools, infrastructure, and attention. We succeed when they do, not before.
The idea of who “makes” a game is changing. Players, streamers, and modders all play a role now. How are you adapting to that shift?
We’re building for it. Developers can now pay influencers directly, reward loyal players, and monetize community-generated content seamlessly through Xsolla’s tools.
Players aren’t just participants anymore, they’re creators, collaborators, and investors in the worlds they help shape. Our goal is to make sure developers have everything they need to nurture that ecosystem and grow it authentically.
When you look ahead, what gets you most excited—not just for Xsolla, but for gaming as a whole?
The direct-to-consumer shift. It’s one of those rare moments that rewrites the rules. Developers can now own their player relationships, build deeper engagement, and control their monetization.
That’s the future we’re excited to power, one where creativity, independence, and community all work hand in hand.
Better tools. Better margins. Stronger connections. That’s where the next decade of gaming is headed and Xsolla intends to be right there, building quietly behind the curtain.
