How to Accept Payments for Video Games

To successfully launch and monetize a video game, developers need a robust payment system. This system ought to provide a means to conduct transactions and protect them against unauthorized access. This guide presents a process for creating a payment system that is tailored to the specific considerations of video game businesses. A dependable and efficient payment system can be established through a multi-step process. This process may affect both revenue generation and user experience.

Antes mesmo de começar a considerar soluções de pagamento, é fundamental entender seu jogo e seu público-alvo. Afinal, a experiência de pagamento que você criar deve se integrar perfeitamente à sensação geral do seu jogo e atender às preferências de seus jogadores. Comece fazendo a si mesmo estas perguntas-chave:

• Análise do mercado-alvo: quem são meus jogadores? 
  • Localização geográfica: Where are your players primarily located? (e.g., North America, Europe, Asia) This will heavily influence the currencies and payment methods you need to support.
  • Player demographics: What are the age ranges and typical tech-savviness of your players? Younger audiences might prefer mobile wallets, while others might rely on credit cards.
  • Gaming habits: Are your players used to free-to-play with in-app purchases, one-time purchases, or subscription models?

Understanding your players’ demographics and habits will help you determine which currencies and payment options are essential. For instance, if your game targets younger audiences, offering mobile wallet options like Apple Pay or Google Pay might be crucial.

• Game monetization model: how will my game make money? Is it a one-time purchase, free-to-play with in-app purchases, or a subscription-based model? The monetization model significantly impacts the features you’ll need from your payment solution.
  • One-time purchase: Is your game a standalone product with a single purchase price?
  • Compras dentro do aplicativo (IAP): Você oferece bens virtuais, moedas ou conteúdo extra dentro do jogo? Se você planeja oferecer compras dentro do aplicativo, certifique-se de que a solução se integre perfeitamente à economia virtual do seu jogo e suporte o gerenciamento de moedas virtuais.
  • Modelo de assinatura: Os jogadores pagam uma taxa recorrente para acessar conteúdo ou serviços online?

• Volume e escala de transações: what scale am I operating at?
  • Estimated transactions: How many transactions do you anticipate per day, week, or month? This can influence processing fees and the level of scalability you will require.
  • Growth projections: How quickly do you expect your player base to grow? These factors will influence your choice, as some solutions are better equipped to handle high transaction volumes and rapid scaling than others. 

• Budgetary considerations: what’s my budget? Be practical when considering the potential economic impact of payment processing. This includes not only transaction fees but also potential setup costs, monthly or annual fees, and the cost of any additional tools you might need for fraud management, tax compliance, and analytics. 
  • Transaction fees: What percentage or fixed fee per transaction are you willing to pay?
  • Setup costs: Existem custos iniciais de configuração ou integração associados à solução de pagamento?
  • Monthly/annual fees: Existem custos recorrentes para usar a plataforma?

• Capacidades técnicas: Eu tenho os recursos técnicos? Integrar uma solução de pagamento exige conhecimento técnico. 
  • Development resources: Do you have in-house developers who can handle API integrations? Consider the potential cost of hiring a developer to assist with the integration or explore no-code solutions to manage costs.
  • Existing infrastructure: What platforms or game engines are you using? Ensure compatibility with the payment solution.

By carefully considering these questions, you’ll gain a clearer picture of your specific needs, laying the groundwork for choosing the right payment solution.

Now that you have a solid understanding of your requirements, it’s time to explore the payment solution landscape. Two main categories dominate this space: Payment Service Providers (PSPs) and Merchants of Record (MoRs). Each offers distinct advantages and disadvantages.

Payment Service Providers (PSPs)

PSPs, such as Stripe, are popular choices, especially for smaller businesses or those with simpler needs. While these services often provide straightforward setup and established brand recognition, consider their potential impact on player trust. PSPs may face limitations in their global and currency support capabilities; therefore, evaluating alternative solutions tailored to your specific business needs could be beneficial. Customers are expected to manage tax compliance, fraud prevention, and chargebacks. This can mean additional costs and complexities, as you might need to invest in separate tools and expertise to handle these critical aspects. Breakdown: 

exemplos: Stripe, PayPal.

Prós: Algumas oferecem opções de integração simples e marcas confiáveis, e estas podem ser adequadas para empresas menores com necessidades mais básicas.

Desvantagens: Embora essa opção ofereça certos benefícios, ela pode apresentar limitações em seu alcance global. Além disso, pode exigir mais esforço manual para gerenciar impostos e conformidade, o que pode levar a uma maior responsabilidade por estornos.

Merchant of Record (MoR)

Em contrapartida, alternativas Merchant of Record (MoR) como a PayPro Global oferecem uma gama mais ampla de soluções. Elas atuam como o vendedor legal de seus jogos, assumindo o ônus da conformidade tributária, gerenciamento de fraudes e estornos. Embora os MoRs normalmente ofereçam uma gama mais ampla de gateways de pagamento e suporte a várias moedas, é importante considerar cuidadosamente se isso se alinha com suas necessidades específicas e mercados-alvo. Se a expansão global e diversas opções de pagamento são prioridades, pode valer a pena explorar os MoRs.

exemplos: PayPro Global;

Prós: Tax compliance, fraud management, chargebacks, payment gateway and currency options, and global expansion.

Desvantagens: May have higher transaction fees than some PSPs (but may be cheaper than PSPs with additional features like fraud prevention, sales tax compliance, etc)

Ultimately, the choice between a PSP and an MoR depends on your specific needs and priorities. If you have the resources and expertise to manage the complexities of international payments and compliance, a PSP might be a viable option. However, if you’re looking for a hassle-free solution that allows you to focus on game development and global expansion, an MoR could be a more strategic choice.

Once you have a general understanding of PSPs and MoRs, it’s time to delve deeper into the specific features offered by each solution. This is where your initial assessment of your needs becomes invaluable. Here’s a breakdown of the key features to consider: 

• Supported Payment Methods: Does the solution support all the ways your players want to pay? This includes not only major credit and debit cards but also digital wallets like PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay, as well as local payment methods that are popular in your target markets. This might include:
  • Credit/Debit cards: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover
  • Digital wallets: PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Amazon Pay
  • Métodos de pagamento locais: WeChat, Alipay (China), iDEAL (Holanda), Débito Direto SEPA (Europa),

• Alcance Global e Suporte a Moedas. Se você tem aspirações globais para o seu jogo, certifique-se de que a solução ofereça suporte a:
  • Processamento em várias moedas: Can you accept payments in various currencies and automatically convert them?
  • Localized checkout: Does the checkout experience adapt to the player’s language and location?

• prevenção de fraude and Security are essential to protect your business. Look for solutions that offer advanced fraud detection mechanisms, such as:
  • Fraud detection tools: Does the solution use AI or machine learning to identify and prevent fraudulent transactions?
  • 3D Secure Authentication: Does it support 3D Secure (Verified by Visa, Mastercard SecureCode) for added security?
  • PCI DSS compliance: A solução está em conformidade com o Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS)?

• Conformidade e Relatórios Fiscais. Entender as leis tributárias internacionais pode ser um processo exigente, que requer muita atenção aos detalhes. Implemente uma solução para automatizar os cálculos de impostos e cumprir as obrigações de remessa, garantindo a conformidade com as regulamentações em diferentes jurisdições.
  • Remessa de impostos automatizada: A solução calcula, coleta e remete automaticamente o imposto sobre vendas, IVA e outros impostos com base na localização do jogador?
  • Tax reporting: Can you easily generate reports for tax purposes?

• In-App Purchase (IAP) capabilities; If your game relies on in-app purchases, the solution should provide smooth and secure transactions within the game.
  • Seamless integration: Can the solution be easily integrated with your game’s IAP system?
  • Virtual currency support: Does it support the management of virtual currencies and goods?
  • API payments on demand: Can you withdraw funds from the existing client without having him go through the checkout (for additional purchases)? 

• Gerenciamento de assinaturas, para jogos com modelos de assinatura, procure por recursos que lidem com:
  • Cobrança Recorrente: A solução consegue lidar com assinaturas recorrentes e gerenciar pagamentos falhos?
  • Planos de Assinatura: Does it allow you to offer different subscription tiers and manage upgrades/downgrades?

• Integração e APIs. Evaluate the ease of integration with your existing technology.
  • API Documentation: Is the API documentation clear and comprehensive?
  • SDKs and Libraries: Does the solution offer SDKs or libraries for your game engine or platform?

• Customer Support and Service: Reliable customer support is essential, especially when dealing with payment processing. Consider
  • Support Channels: How can you contact support (email, phone, chat)? How responsive are they? 
  • Disponibilidade de Suporte: What are the support hours and response times? Billing support could potentially benefit from providing 24/7 live customer assistance through multiple channels. 

Ao avaliar cuidadosamente esses recursos, você pode restringir suas opções e escolher uma solução que esteja alinhada com suas necessidades específicas. Dedicar tempo para entender a variedade de opções e seus recursos pode ajudá-lo a tomar uma decisão informada. É importante considerar que opções inicialmente mais baratas podem gerar custos adicionais no futuro, quando você considerar os extras essenciais.

Depois de escolher sua solução de pagamento, é hora de integrá-la ao seu jogo. Siga a documentação e as melhores práticas do provedor para garantir um processo de integração tranquilo. Isso normalmente envolve a utilização de suas APIs e SDKs para conectar seu jogo ao gateway de pagamento:

• API Integration: Use the provided APIs to connect your game to the payment gateway.
• SDK Implementation: If available, utilize SDKs for easier integration with your game engine.
• Testing in Sandbox: Most providers offer a sandbox environment to test transactions without real money.
• End-to-End Testing: Test various payment methods, currencies, and scenarios to ensure a seamless user experience.

Thorough testing is crucial to guarantee a seamless payment experience for your players. Most providers offer a sandbox environment where you can test transactions without using real money. Explore this opportunity to test various payment methods, currencies, and scenarios to evaluate their potential impact on overall functionality.

Após finalizar a fase de testes, você pode habilitar a integração de pagamento e disponibilizar seu jogo para os jogadores. Monitore continuamente o desempenho do seu sistema de pagamento, rastreando métricas-chave como taxas de conversão, taxas de sucesso de transação e erros comuns.

Preste muita atenção ao feedback dos jogadores on the payment process. Are they encountering any difficulties? Are there any points of friction in the checkout flow? Analyze feedback to understand areas where enhancements to the user experience can be implemented.

Following these steps may provide insights into selecting an appropriate payment solution for your video game business. The characteristics of a payment experience could potentially have an impact on revenue, player satisfaction, and the longevity of success.