Gaming
Unlocking games revenue: player behavior and payment trends in the west | Newzoo x Tebex Whitepaper

Tebex, the leading payments solution for gaming, reaching $1Bn in processed payments and powering over 30,000 web stores, is launching the first industry-wide look at payment trends in EU and NA with Newzoo on Tuesday, August 12 at 09:00 AM CEST.
Why This Data Matters
In a maturing Western games market with slowing payer growth (North America: +1.1% CAGR, Europe: +3.1% CAGR, 2023-2027), studios must shift from acquiring new players to maximizing value from existing ones. The data reveals critical insights into player motivations, spending patterns, and payment preferences, enabling developers to craft targeted monetization strategies that boost revenue, enhance retention, and align with player expectations.
Global Market Snapshot (2025)
- Market Size: $188.9B (+3.4% YoY), with North America ($52.7B, 28%) and Europe ($33.1B, 18%) driving 46% of global spend despite housing only 20% of players (3.54B total).
- Payer Spending Power: North America leads with $324.9 avg. annual spend per payer; Europe averages $125.4 ($170.0 Western, $51.6 Eastern).
- Value: High per-payer spend in Western markets highlights the opportunity to deepen monetization through tailored strategies.
Spending Motivations Drive Strategy
- North America: 34% of payers spend to unlock exclusive content, 29% for personalization (character customization), reflecting a desire for self-expression. Studios can capitalize by offering unique cosmetics and content packs to drive engagement.
- Europe: 28% prioritize deals/offers, 21% value ad-free experiences, showing value-driven behavior. Discounted bundles and subscription models can increase conversion in this region.
- Value: Understanding regional motivations allows studios to align offerings with player priorities, enhancing loyalty and spend.
Diversified Spending Patterns
- North America: 27% of payers invest in content packs, power-ups, and in-game currencies, with subscriptions (24%) and battle passes (23%) also strong.
- Europe: In-game currencies and content packs lead (21% each), followed by subscriptions (20%) and gear/time-savers (18% each).
- Value: Diverse spending across virtual goods underscores the need for varied monetization options to capture a broad range of player preferences, boosting average transaction value (ATV).
Payment Methods Unlock Higher Spend
- ATV Trends (2025): Overall, ATV rose from $30 (2024) to $40. BNPL (North America: $85.0, Europe: $72.0) and crypto (North America: $94.8, Europe: $111.6) outperform cards (North America: $52.2, Europe: $42.7).
- Dual-Method Impact: Players using cards + BNPL/crypto maintain transaction frequency while spending more.
- Value: Offering alternative payment methods like BNPL and crypto can significantly increase ATV, especially in Western markets, without sacrificing transaction volume.
Revenue by Platform and Genre
- Microtransactions (MTX): Drive 49% of PC and 52% of console revenue in North America; 42% (PC) and 51% (console) in Europe. Mobile is near 100% in-game revenue.
- Top Genres: North America favors shooters, Europe prioritizes sports, with RPGs and puzzles strong in both.
- Value: High MTX revenue and genre preferences guide studios to focus on live services and region-specific content to maximize engagement.
Strategic Takeaways
- Deepen Monetization: With modest payer growth, studios must focus on existing players by offering personalized content and value-driven deals.
- Diversify Payment Options: Cards and wallet still dominate in volume, but integrating BNPL and crypto can unlock higher ATV, especially in Western markets.
- Align with Player Values: Transparency, fairness, and seamless payment experiences reduce churn and build loyalty in a competitive market.
- Understand the why and how players spend: NA players are more likely to spend for personalization and self-expression, while EU players are more value-conscious, prioritizing deals and an ad-free experience.
Quotes
Liam Wiltshire Head of Payments & Compliance at Tebex
“The future of gaming is about flexibility – meeting players where they are, with the methods they trust.”
This quote summarizes the importance of adapting to player-preferred payment methods like wallets, BNPL, and crypto to enhance accessibility and trust.
“Virtual currencies and microtransactions are no longer just revenue streams – they’re becoming strategic levers for retention and differentiation.”
This emphasizes the evolving role of microtransactions beyond revenue, focusing on engagement and player retention.
“Today’s players want to know what they’re paying for – and why. How you monetize matters more than ever.”
This highlights the need for transparency and fairness in monetization to build player trust and loyalty.
The post Unlocking games revenue: player behavior and payment trends in the west | Newzoo x Tebex Whitepaper appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Games of the Future 2025
The Countdown is On: Less Than 3 Months to Go Until The Games of The Future 2025 Kicks Off in Abu Dhabi

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In just under three months, the world will turn its eyes to Abu Dhabi as the Games of the Future 2025 (GOTF 2025) prepare to deliver an electrifying showcase of competition, innovation and entertainment.
Set to redefine the boundaries of sport in a pioneering format where competitors must excel both in traditional sports and digital gaming arenas, the Games of the Future 2025 is set to be a sporting spectacular like no other.
For six days from 18-23 December, ADNEC will transform into a futuristic sports hub featuring sports and esports arenas, robot combat zones and drone racing tracks, as athletes and clubs from across the globe battle across 11 phygital disciplines that test speed, strategy and sporting prowess for a staggering USD 5 million prize pool.
Led by ASPIRE as the official delivery authority for the Games of the Future 2025, and supported by Ethara, the operations powerhouse behind some of the city’s key iconic events, athletes, fans and spectators can look forward to an exceptional edition that will elevate the Games of the Future into a landmark occasion on the global sporting calendar.
Residents and visitors can experience a taste of the action with an immersive roadshow at a series of locations across the UAE from October to December. Featuring live demos and interactive challenges, the tour will bring the thrill of phygital sport to life ahead of the Games of the Future 2025 in December.
Nis Hatt, CEO of Phygital International, said: “Phygital sports are rewriting the rulebooks of competition. With less than three months to go, transforming the iconic exhibition centre in the heart of Abu Dhabi into the world’s most advanced space for both digital and physical competition is no small feat. It requires the vision and dedication of hundreds of people to build bespoke digital arenas, pitches, and immersive experiences that will redefine how athletes compete and how fans engage.”
Fans will be able to follow every moment of the Games of the Future 2025 thanks to two newly confirmed media partners. Ei Nerd, Brazil’s leading entertainment platform boasting over 4 billion views, will bring the spectacle directly to its vast community, and BIGG, one of the foremost gaming and esports entertainment company in EMEA, will deliver comprehensive coverage via BIGG TV, the Middle East’s leading gaming channel, which reaches 50 million households in more than 100 countries.
The post The Countdown is On: Less Than 3 Months to Go Until The Games of The Future 2025 Kicks Off in Abu Dhabi appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
155.io
155.io rolls out new chaos-fuelled game Survivor

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155.io, the live content studio built for a mobile-first world, has amped up the chaos in its live game portfolio with the launch of Survivor – a frenetic, last-marble-standing battle that turns physics into pure entertainment.
Brought to life from 155.io’s custom-built studio, Survivor sees 16 marbles begin on a plate that spins to make collisions in a mesmerising display of speed and chaos – ultimately leaving just one winner. Marbles are assigned to coloured teams with each featuring a different number of marbles, creating unique odds every round.
The mercurial white marble pays out over 15x, making every spin a heart-racing showdown. 155.io’s live portfolio of games stars ducks.io, Marbles.io and Stairpong.io. All of the games are recorded from a real-world studio, broadcast live, designed for the mobile user in mind.
155.io Founder and CEO Sam Jones commented: “Survivor strikes the perfect balance of real-world chaos, adrenaline, and intensity as players watch to see which marble outlasts the rest. It’s a fun, fresh twist on our original marbles game — one that players still love to this day. This is exactly what 155.io is about: simple, universal games brought to life with real-world action and designed for the next generation of players.”
The post 155.io rolls out new chaos-fuelled game Survivor appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Belatra
Belatra on target with debut crash game: Goose Boom Bang

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Belatra, a leading developer of innovative online slots, has set its sights on the crash game market with the launch of its hit new game, Goose Boom Bang.
Following 30 successful years of creating outstanding slot and instant games, Belatra has turned its sights on the crash game market. Goose Boom Bang stars a fearless goose whose explosive personality takes the game to new heights. As soon as the goose takes off, the multiplier begins to climb – from 1.01x up to an incredible 1000x. The longer the goose travels, the higher the potential reward.
As the journey gathers pace, the risk increases and at any moment the goose can be stopped in his tracks by a cunning Hunter, the swift Hawk, or the sly Crocodile. The prize returns to zero as soon as the goose is stopped by one of these protagonists. Players must decide the opportune moment to call time on the goose flight, but choose when to shoot and claim the winnings.
If the shot hits the mark, the bet is multiplied by the current multiplier, and the Goose drops to the water. Game round history is displayed at the top of the screen: green indicates a win, red – shows a loss. The Goose’s flight path continues to be shown even after the round, revealing how far it could have flown and the maximum possible winning total.
Misha Voinich, Head of Business Development at Belatra, commented: “Belatra has fired the starting gun on its crash game entry, bringing its signature style of humor, dynamic gameplay, and unique atmosphere. Players have the power to choose when to stop the Goose and secure the maximum multiplier before the Hunter, Hawk, or Crocodile ends the round for them!”
The post Belatra on target with debut crash game: Goose Boom Bang appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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