Payments for video game developers

Event recap: Empowering video game developers with alternative payment solutions

The recent SF Game Developer meetup brought together a diverse community of developers eager to explore new solutions for handling payments within their projects. The event showcased how integrating third-party payment solutions can empower developers to handle in-app purchases, subscriptions and recurring payments more efficiently. The session emphasized the importance of various payment methods beyond platform-native systems.

Why video game developers need alternatives to native payment systems

Platform-native payment systems, such as those used on mobile app stores or digital game platforms, offer convenience, but often come with limitations that developers want to avoid. These include high transaction fees, limited payment flexibility and restrictions on cross-platform monetization.

The event highlighted several benefits of third-party payment solutions, including:

• Lower fees: Native platforms can charge fees as high as 30 percent per transaction, which significantly impacts profitability, especially for video games with microtransactions. Alternative systems allow for cheaper options, such as Automated Clearing House (ACH) payments, which are ideal for low-value purchases and recurring billing.
• Cross-platform monetization: Developers need payment solutions that work across multiple platforms—mobile, PC and console—so that players can seamlessly access content regardless of where they play. Native systems often lock payments within their own ecosystem, limiting flexibility.

The value of learning about ACH payments

One key takeaway from the event was the value of ACH payments for developers managing subscriptions or large-volume transactions. ACH offers lower, fixed fees compared to percentage-based card fees, making it more sustainable for recurring services like memberships.

Additionally, ACH payments can be more reliable than credit cards, which can expire or be declined. This reliability reduces the risk of failed payments and can increase the likelihood that players enjoy uninterrupted access to premium services. Developers also gain greater control over billing cycles and retry attempts, creating a smoother player experience. 

Future-proofing payments and avoiding platform risks

Reliance on native systems exposes developers to business risks from sudden policy changes or limitations on payment methods. Using third-party solutions can help developers diversify their payment infrastructure, maintain greater control over revenue streams and launch direct-to-consumer sales channels without platform restrictions.

Building the future of game payments

The session demonstrated how adopting flexible, secure and scalable payment systems can help developers stay competitive and profitable. Offering alternative payment methods like ACH, integrating custom payment flows and expanding into global markets ensures that developers can grow sustainably while delivering better player experiences.

The insights from the event can empower developers to innovate their payment strategies, reduce costs and enhance the value of their video games, setting them up for future success in an evolving industry.

Where to go from here

For those looking to scale and future-proof their payment infrastructure, now is the time to explore innovative payment solutions. Discover more about the possibilities and explore payment solutions.