Xsolla and Game8 have announced a collaboration to place purchase links within game strategy sites and jointly expand game sales with overseas expansion in mind. They discussed expanding direct sales through Web Shop and initiatives that cross the boundary between digital items and merchandise.
Game8 and Xsolla have begun collaborating to extend overseas the results achieved in Japan through game strategy sites and off-platform payments. They are examining a framework in which purchase links are placed in strategy articles and customers are directed to Xsolla’s Web Shop. The two companies have agreed to form a partnership to support the overseas expansion of Japanese games.
The collaboration is driven by the maturity of Japan’s mobile game market and growth opportunities in overseas markets. The combination of the high traffic generated by game strategy sites and a payments infrastructure is viewed as important in encouraging Japanese companies, which have been cautious about overseas expansion, to take action. The parties share the view that this could provide game companies with a way to expand revenue opportunities overseas.
Under the proposed framework, game companies, Xsolla and Game8 will work together, with the placement of links in strategy articles to be determined by agreement among the parties. Titles using Web Shop will not be displayed automatically, but will be introduced following individual proposals and agreement. The parties aim to expand the initiative based on its track record and results in Japan and overseas.
As for future prospects, the parties are discussing expanding the range of products available through Web Shop to include physical products such as merchandise, in addition to digital items, with the aim of creating new purchasing experiences by integrating digital and physical products. The initiative was described as a collaboration model that emphasizes uniqueness in the AI era and aims to support the growth of Japanese games while increasing publishers’ revenue.