Virtually all video games studios run a direct-to-consumer (D2C) net retailer or plan to, in keeping with a brand new survey.
The Annual State of D2C Sport Monetisation Survey, revealed by FastSpring and Omdia, discovered that 59% of sport publishers and studios already function a D2C retailer.
Of the 41% that do not, 91% plan to launch one, with 67% intending to take action inside 12 months.
FastSpring and Omdia collected knowledge from 110 senior administration and exec-level respondents between April and June 2026.
The survey discovered D2C adoption elevated modestly from 57% final 12 months to 59% this 12 months. Nevertheless, an even bigger change occurred amongst non-adopters: final 12 months, 60% deliberate to start out a D2C retailer inside 12 months, rising to 67% this 12 months.
The highest causes for utilizing a D2C platform are to enhance model visibility and loyalty (66%) and to realize higher entry to first-party buyer knowledge and insights (58%).
Different key motivations embody larger management over pricing and promotions (54%), increased revenue margins (52%), and constructing direct relationships with gamers (51%).
The principle barrier to launching a D2C retailer is technical complexity (56%), down from 67% final 12 months. Different considerations embody “damaging relationships” with Apple and Google (51%) and authorized or regulatory uncertainty (47%).
Current regulatory adjustments, together with the Epic vs Apple and Epic vs Google instances within the EU and US, have enabled exterior fee choices on iOS and Android. These adjustments additionally have an effect on markets akin to Japan and Brazil.
82% of respondents mentioned these adjustments made them “extra assured sooner or later worth of D2C,” whereas 96% discovered “at the least some confidence of their understanding of the shifting authorized panorama.”
Final 12 months, 95% of D2C customers elevated their funding after the Epic vs Apple ruling. After Google’s decision to reduce Play Store fees this 12 months, 88% of respondents plan to extend funding in 2026, with 42% intending to take action considerably, up from 33% final 12 months.
“These authorized outcomes are instantly prompting swift motion amongst cautious builders,” mentioned FastSpring. “Now 93% of non-adopters say latest courtroom selections have made them extra prone to undertake a D2C net retailer; solely 6.7% mentioned the rulings modified nothing.”
Publishers and studios working D2C platforms generate between 10% and 29% of their complete income by these channels, with about one-third deriving 20% or extra.
“75% of D2C operators say their share of income from direct channels elevated during the last 12 months, with solely a small minority reporting any decline.”
84% of respondents are “hitting or exceeding their 2025 D2C goal,” with 66% exceeding it. In consequence, 65% have set increased D2C targets for 2026 than final 12 months.
“Final 12 months, 49% of non-adopters mentioned they didn’t imagine D2C would drive important income. This 12 months, that doubt has fallen to 38%.”
FastSpring notes that studios and publishers are selecting D2C to “personal the participant relationship and the info that comes with it,” shifting the platform “from a cost-cutting tactic right into a development and possession technique.”
“Studios and publishers that steer gamers strategically – rising the share of income working by direct channels whereas deliberately managing platform charges – can raise total profitability reasonably than merely keep away from a lower.”