Sophie Blake
Direct-to-consumer payments platform Appcharge has exceeded $1 billion in annualized transaction volume, reflecting a broader shift among mobile game publishers away from traditional app store billing systems.
The milestone, first reported by GamesBeat, comes amid increasing efforts by developers to reduce reliance on platform operators that typically take commissions of up to 30% on in-app purchases. According to company estimates, leading publishers collectively lose tens of millions of dollars per day to such fees.
Appcharge’s growth has accelerated over the past year. The company reported approximately $500 million in annualized transaction volume in mid-2025, rising to $700 million at the start of 2026 before surpassing the $1 billion mark in recent months. The increase follows a $58 million Series B funding round, after which transaction activity on the platform more than doubled within six months.
The platform enables publishers to process payments outside traditional app marketplaces, allowing them to retain a larger share of revenue and establish more direct relationships with players. This approach has gained traction as monetization strategies evolve across the mobile gaming sector.
Appcharge currently supports more than 150 mobile games globally, working with publishers including King, Huuuge, Tripledot Studios, and SciPlay. The company has framed the shift toward direct payments as a structural change rather than a temporary experiment.
The expansion of its operations has accompanied this growth. Appcharge recently opened a new office in Istanbul, aiming to strengthen its presence in a mobile gaming market that continues to expand rapidly.
The development highlights a broader trend within the industry, where publishers are reassessing distribution and monetization models in response to rising costs associated with platform ecosystems.
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