From web stores to intelligent player services

What's in this white paper

Explore how top game studios use D2C, first-party data, and AI to build intelligent, immersive player experiences beyond the game.

The real reason publishers are going off-platform

The shift didn’t start with strategy – it started with frustration. But freedom from platforms brought something more valuable than margin: player relationships.

What triggered the rise of direct-to-consumer (D2C) strategies in gaming?
How does going off-platform give publishers more control over the player relationship?
How much revenue can publishers make from direct-to-player commerce?
What strategic advantages come from owning the commercial surface?

The D2C maturity scale: where do you rank?

We outline the six stages of operational maturity, from simple web stores to AI-driven services, and help you locate where your studio stands today.

What are the stages of maturity for D2C infrastructure in gaming?
How can publishers assess their current D2C and identity readiness?
What are the challenges and benefits of moving from in-app purchases to owned web stores?
Why are unified player accounts critical for scaling personalization and loyalty?

How data opens doors to intelligent player relationships

Once you own the commercial surface, you gain the insights that power meaningful loyalty, personalized offers, creator ecosystems, and smarter liveops.

What kind of first-party data can publishers collect through D2C?
How does data enable loyalty programs and creator ecosystems?
How can publishers use behavioral insights to create personalized offers?
How does data turn individual transactions into long-term engagement?

AI as the next frontier

AI isn’t coming – it’s already here. We explore how it’s showing up in support, personalization, and beyond. And why only the right infrastructure makes it work.

How is AI being used in player-facing gaming services today?
Why is structured, first-party data essential for effective AI and ML in games?
What kinds of intelligent services can AI unlock for player engagement?
What technical foundations do publishers need to support player-facing AI?

From web stores to intelligent player services

AI is everywhere in the conversation around gaming. But the real opportunity isn’t in the hype – it’s in the infrastructure studios have already built.

Over the past few years, publishers have laid down the foundations: first-party identity systems, direct-to-player commerce, and unified data pipelines. What began as a way to bypass platform fees has become something much more powerful – a launchpad for intelligent, player-facing services.

This white paper explores how forward-thinking studios are using these foundations to evolve from selling to serving, unlocking more personal, adaptive, and immersive experiences through data and AI.

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