Game Changer: The Evolution of Video Games’ Payments Infrastructure

Julian Alcazar and Samuel Baird

Payments System Research Briefing, 2025, 7

Abstract: Although video games have provided entertainment for decades, their popularity among consumers has surged since the COVID-19 pandemic. As more consumers play video games, companies have changed how they monetize and distribute games to their customers as well as adapted and evolved their payments infrastructure to support new revenue models. Meanwhile, regulators are monitoring the industry due to concerns related to consumer protection, data privacy, and financial crime. This Payments System Research Briefing provides an overview of the video game industry and its evolving revenue models, examines the underlying payments infrastructure supporting the industry, explores the potential of instant payments for video games, and discusses regulatory concerns related to gaming payments.

Keywords: payments; video games; video game industry; regulation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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