The New Way to Sell in-App

For years, mobile game developers have played by the rules of the big app stores – paying up to 30% in platform fees, jumping through approval hoops, and handing over player data in exchange for distribution. But in 2025, everything’s changing.
The Epic Games v. Apple case holds significant implications for U.S.-based game developers aiming to distribute and monetize games.
A new era of game monetization is here – and it’s all about taking back control.

The App Store Model: What’s Holding You Back

If you’re selling in-game content through Apple or Google, you're likely losing 30 cents on every dollar. That adds up fast – and it's not just about the revenue.

The Hidden Price of App Store Dependence:

• Monetization Control: You can’t customize pricing, bundle offers, or run real-time promotions without going through approval queues.
• Player Relationships: You don’t own your player data. You get limited insights, while platforms hold the keys to retention and monetization strategies.
• Brand Experience: Your checkout? Your purchase journey? It looks like Apple or Google. Not you.
• Flexibility: Updates to monetization features are slow, restricted, and rarely tailored to your game’s unique needs.

In short, you’re building your business on someone else’s terms.

Why Change Is Finally Possible

Thanks to a major ruling in the Epic Games vs. Apple case, app store giants are being forced to open the gates. In the US, app developers can now link out to external payment methods, and that changes everything. That means:

• You don’t have to leave the App Store – just use the door that opened:
• Use an external checkout to sell in-app game items and subscriptions. These transactions are not subject to App Store fees in the US.
• Launch your own webshop that you can link to your game.
• Offer lower prices, exclusive bundles, run loyalty campaigns, offer webshop-exclusive items, VIP programs, and more.
• And most importantly, taking more revenue for your game

Yes, you stay in-app – but the transaction happens off-store, where you’re in full control.

What’s in It for You?

Being able to link out to external payment methods isn’t just a cost-cutting move – it’s a power shift. Going direct-to-consumer (D2C) puts you back in control of your business, your players, and your profit:

Keep up to 95% of your revenue

Forget the 30% platform fee. With D2C distribution, you control the transaction and capture the lion’s share – up to 95% of each sale goes straight to your gaming business. That's a real budget to reinvest in your games, teams, and growth.

Just like in the EU, you can now link to an external web browser to accept payments for in-app purchases for iOS in the US.
Terminal3 GamePay can provide you with this checkout.

Get full access to player data

No more guessing who your players are or what they want. By owning the checkout flow, you get direct access to first-party data – purchasing behavior, player location, lifecycle stage, and more. That means smarter targeting, more effective player retention and acquisition campaigns, and real insights to launch better monetization strategies and game updates.

Go live with new strategies in minutes, not weeks

With app stores, rolling out new pricing or offers can take weeks (and lots of red tape). With D2C? You’re in the driver’s seat. Run A/B tests, flash sales, bundles, or loyalty programs in real time, without waiting for approvals or store restrictions.

Offer payment methods players actually use

Through your web shop, you can offer players a localized checkout experience by offering alternative payment methods that are accessible to them.

Supporting payment preferences increases trust, conversion, and revenue – and gives players a frictionless experience they’ll come back for.

Build a branded and localized checkout that drives conversion

No more generic in-app purchase screens. Create a checkout experience that feels like your game, with visuals, tone, and offers tailored to your audience. A seamless flow reduces friction – and boosts the likelihood they hit “buy.”

This is more than a change in payments processing –

It's about building better games, stronger player loyalty, and more sustainable gaming businesses.

Game publishers that embrace D2C are doing more than protecting margins. They’re creating direct relationships with their players, building stronger communities, and future-proofing their business against platform changes.

Plarium, the studio behind RAID: Shadow Legends, has driven over $3B in global user spend - with RAID alone hitting $1B on mobile by 2022. But the real game-changer? Plarium Play, their own desktop launcher, now powers 30% of total revenue.

High player engagement has helped funnel users to this D2C platform, where they enjoy seamless mobile desktop play, exclusive rewards, and titles like Mech Arena. With Plarium Points, cross-promotions, and strong community tools, they’ve created a self-sustaining ecosystem.

Best of all, they own the player relationship through Plarium ID - cutting out app store fees, boosting retention, and gaining data in a post-IDFA world.

Plarium’s D2C move helped beat the store and win big.

Ready to take control of your distribution?

Terminal3 – Power your D2C Launch with the Right Payment Solutions

Built for game studios, trusted since 2018, Terminal3 delivers everything you need to break free from app platform fees and own your monetization:

• GamePay supports external checkout for in-app purchases
• Webshop: get the most out of every transaction when you sell direct-to-consumer through your self-managed, no-code web store
• Tax and Compliance: Launch your D2C game sales in the US and the EU easily even without a local entity. We act as your Merchant of Record managing the complexities of local regulations and tax compliance on your behalf
• Fraud and Chargeback Management powered by machine learning based on 15 years of game payments data protecting your game from fraud and chargebacks
• 24/7 Customer Support to handle payments-related issues around the clock for your players
• Easy integration that supports your development needs from ready-to-use plug-ins, SDKs, APIs that are available across different platforms including App Store and Google Play