Xsolla unveils Buy Button to help developers bypass app store fees
Xsolla has introduced its Buy Button for Mobile Games, a direct-to-consumer payment solution aimed at providing mobile game developers with alternative revenue options following a recent United States court ruling.
The development follows the April 2025 decision by a US court to restrict Apple from preventing the use of external payment links or charging commissions on third-party storefronts for US users. This ruling permits developers to embed external payment links within their mobile games and bypass Apple's platform fees, which can reach up to 30% of purchases made inside applications.
With the arrival of Xsolla's Buy Button, developers can integrate direct payment links into their games, which, when clicked, redirect users to a browser-based checkout process supported by Xsolla's Web Shop and Pay Station. This enables the sale of virtual items, digital currencies, and content bundles via a secure and streamlined process outside the standard app store ecosystem.
The browser-based checkout claims to offer a seamless user experience. Players who interact with in-game offers can now use autofill and one-tap methods to complete purchases quickly, helping to facilitate in-app transactions while avoiding the traditional platform commission.
Another aspect of the Buy Button is its integration flexibility. Developers can create external payment links using templates provided by Xsolla, allowing for quick deployment with minimal or no custom coding required. There is also support for catalogue synchronisation, loyalty tools, and personalised offers, providing developers with multiple avenues to manage their digital storefronts without extensive technical overhead.
Key capabilities
Xsolla is the Merchant of Record for all transactions processed via the Buy Button, meaning global tax calculation, collection, and remittance is managed by the company directly. This function removes the need for third-party tax services for developers selling to international users.
The Buy Button supports additional features including loyalty programs and player rewards aimed at enhancing retention. These allow developers to issue prepaid gift cards, integrate parental controls, and deliver engagement-driven, personalised rewards to players either in-app or online.
LiveOps synchronisation is built in, enabling web-based promotions to line up with in-game events, new content launches, and player achievements, with the goal of increasing the relevance of offers to individual players.
Parental control features and gift card functionality are accessible globally through the Buy Button, in line with Xsolla's broader suite of compliance and user management features.
The system facilitates multi-channel commerce for developers, allowing the extension of monetisation opportunities not just within the app itself, but also on web platforms and social channels including Discord and Telegram, where games often maintain active communities.
Industry response
"This court decision is a turning point for mobile game developers in the US and around the world. The Buy Button is available today through the Xsolla Web Shop," stated Chris Hewish, Chief Strategy Officer at Xsolla. "Developers can register through the Xsolla Publisher account, use the Instant Web Shop template, and generate links in minutes without requiring custom coding. This rollout reinforces Xsolla's commitment to building flexible, global commerce tools empowering developers to succeed and scale their business across multiple platforms."
According to Xsolla, the Buy Button is designed to give mobile game developers more control over monetisation, foster improved player relationships, and enable growth without former restrictions imposed by platform providers. The approach is positioned as a direct consequence of the legal changes in the United States, which now allow these direct payment links to be made available within apps distributed to US users on iOS devices.
Developers using the Buy Button retain more of the revenue from each transaction, minus the standard payment processing costs, as a result of the zero-platform commission structure enabled by the new legislation. Xsolla estimates that developers could reclaim up to 30% on sales previously lost to platform fees.
The Buy Button for Mobile Games is immediately available through Xsolla's Web Shop and associated integration templates, with integration guides released for Web Shop, the Buy Button itself, and mobile SDKs.
