What is a Game WebShop?

A Game WebShop is a direct-to-consumer online storefront that gives game developers, as well as SaaS developers, the option to sell their products directly to customers.  The products sold include:  

• In-game currencies 
• Subscriptions  
• Exclusive content 
• Virtual items  

A game webshop is completely owned and controlled by the developer.  This means that the game creator focuses on a range of crucial operations, like pricing, discount strategies, and customer interactions.  

A Game WebShop would extend the in-game store to a web-based environment.  Players can buy items on any device, with purchases synchronized across accounts and platforms. 

The WebShop allows integration with payment processing, accounting systems, and game economies so that items purchased on the web are available immediately in the game.  This can be applicable to live games and SaaS products, which often involve recurring payments, bundles, seasonal content, and LiveOps campaigns, potentially reducing reliance on external services.

Game webshops serve as a supplementary platform for developers to generate revenue, operating independently of app stores which typically involve commission fees.  Developers having more control over monetization operations can employ flexible pricing, such as regional offers or dynamic pricing, and this may relate to variations in earned profit.

Webshops encourage users to download their games and explore them all in one go.  With so many options, it’s difficult to know where to start.  Generally, engagement is rewarded through exclusive offers and promotions, as well as cross-title bonuses.   

Players and SaaS customers appreciate webshops because they offer an all-in-one brand experience.  

Game webshops integrate various social features, including:  

• Leaderboard 
• Shared achievements  
• Referral rewards  
• Social sharing  

These elements come to strengthen the idea of community and engagement, leading to increased conversion rates and recurring revenue. 

Effective Game WebShops typically include: 

• Web-exclusive bundles or discounts 
• Bonus currency for web purchases 
• Loyalty rewards and progression-based offers 
• Limited-time promotions tied to events or updates 
• Using player data to personalize offers increases relevance and conversion while improving player satisfaction.

Some of the implementation challenges that come with game webshops include:  

• Ensuring performance across various devices  
• Handling global payments & refunds  
• Managing taxes and compliance 
• Ensuring fraud prevention  
• Keeping the gaming experience uninterrupted while performing content updates, offering discounts and promotions. 

For a game webshop, some important KPIs include: 

• conversion rate 
• average revenue per user (ARPU) 
• average revenue per paying user (ARPPU) 
• lifetime value (LTV) 
• total direct revenue.  

When monitoring these metrics, you also need to consider player engagement and region to obtain a comprehensive picture.