Mobile Dev Memo Podcast Season 6, Episode 5: Sizing the off-platform monetization opportunity on mobile (with Chris Hewish)
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Aug 12, 2025 Chris Hewish, President of Xsolla and a veteran from Skydance and Activision, dives into the evolving world of mobile monetization. He discusses the impact of Apple and Google's payment policy changes, highlighting how developers can leverage off-platform payments for better conversion rates. Hewish shares his insights on the 'trust premium' required for success and common pitfalls to avoid. He also emphasizes the growing adoption among larger companies and innovative strategies like offer walls to enhance engagement and revenue in mobile gaming.
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Off-Platform Enables True E‑commerce
- Off-platform stores unlock full e-commerce capabilities like personalization, dynamic pricing, and live ops.
- These capabilities often increase ARPU and provide player-facing value beyond commission savings.
Kid Finds Webshop Organically
- Chris's 11-year-old son discovered Supercell's webshop organically through friends and creators.
- This illustrates how webshops are already becoming a familiar, discoverable player destination.
Genres That Benefit Most
- Genres with high-ARPU or long lifecycles convert best off-platform (social casino, Forex, MMORPGs, mid-core).
- Off-platform bundles, events and exclusives can produce double-digit ARPU lifts.