Xsolla Adds Affirm to Checkout, Bringing Pay-Over-Time Options to Gamers
Game devs now have a new way to boost player spending—and player satisfaction—thanks to a newly announced partnership between Xsolla and Affirm.
The global video game commerce platform has integrated Affirm’s buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) tools into its U.S. payments system, giving players the option to break up purchases into interest-free biweekly payments or longer-term monthly plans on purchases starting at $50. The rollout is live now in the U.S., with Canada and the U.K. coming soon, according to Xsolla.
Why It Matters: Flexible Payments, Real-Time Eligibility, No Hidden Fees
For gamers, it’s about flexibility. Whether buying full games or high-ticket bundles of in-game currency, players can now opt for transparent installment plans—no late fees, no surprises, and a quick eligibility check at checkout. This feature, common in fashion and electronics e-commerce, has been slower to hit the gaming world—until now.
For developers and publishers, it’s a monetization move that could lead to higher average order value (AOV) and better conversion rates, especially on larger digital purchases. That’s particularly valuable in a market where user acquisition costs are rising and lifetime value is under pressure.
The BNPL Push Reaches Game Commerce
The Xsolla-Affirm alliance plugs into a broader trend: BNPL has been spreading across verticals as users—especially Millennials and Gen Z—favor short-term, interest-free installment plans over revolving credit.
“We’re empowering developers to offer gamers a smarter way to pay for the content they love,” said Chris Hewish, President of Communication & Strategy at Xsolla.
Affirm, which already partners with brands like Amazon and Walmart, brings name recognition and a “no late fees, no hidden fees” promise to the table. That’s a stark contrast to the often murky waters of traditional credit cards.
“Partnering with Xsolla brings [our] principles to the gaming world,” added Pat Suh, SVP of Revenue at Affirm. “It delivers more control and choice in how players pay.”
Developer Impact: Low-Lift, High-Reward
Xsolla powers checkout infrastructure for thousands of developers—from indie shops to AAA studios. The Affirm integration is automatically available to U.S. players using Xsolla’s Payments Tool, meaning developers don’t need to do any heavy lifting to enable it. This plug-and-play approach could be a game-changer for monetization, especially in regions where flexible payments are increasingly expected.
And while some skeptics may raise eyebrows at BNPL entering the gaming space—especially amid rising concerns around microtransactions and younger users—Affirm’s model, which emphasizes clear terms and user responsibility, may sidestep some of the criticism that has dogged other fintech models in gaming.
The Bigger Picture
As digital commerce becomes more personalized and flexible, partnerships like this are a sign of things to come. Whether it’s Fortnite skins, Steam bundles, or entire digital game libraries, players want more control over how they pay, and platforms want less friction at checkout.
For Xsolla, which has been steadily expanding its toolkit for game monetization, this is one more lever for developers to pull in an increasingly competitive ecosystem. For Affirm, it’s a foot firmly planted in one of the world’s most engaged digital verticals.
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