Xsolla’s 2025 Gaming State of Play report reveals optimistic trends

Mobile gaming is thriving, the Asia-Pacific market is experiencing a surge — and so are new opportunities and new markets. In our most recent GamesBeat Live session, Chris Hewish, chief strategy officer at Xsolla, spoke with Dean Takahashi, GameBeat’s Lead Writer, about what game industry leaders can expect in 2025, Xsolla’s recent report — The Gaming Industry State of Play: 2025 and Beyond — and what’s driving greater-than-expected industry growth.

Arguably the biggest trend is the growth of direct-to-consumer (DTC) web shops, driven by a 70% capture rate on off-platform sales, made possible by regulatory changes that free developers from the dependence of traditional app stores.

“This is part of a bigger trend, which is all about putting power in the hands of the consumers and the users,” Hewish said. “Things were locked away previously in platforms and gatekeepers, but now we’re making things easier and giving them more ...