Gaming industry payment infrastructure evolves as revenues hit $201 billion

The global video game industry reached a milestone in 2025, with revenues hitting $201.6 billion, marking a 9.1% year-on-year increase according to Newzoo. This growth is driven by PC and mobile gaming segments.

To support this expansion, financial technology firms are addressing payment friction within digital entertainment. Yuno has highlighted the need for dynamic transaction routing to prevent legitimate payment rejections from interrupting user sessions, particularly in markets like Colombia where local cards often face international gateway blocks.

Additionally, ZBD has launched new financial infrastructure designed to integrate payment cycles directly into games. This includes facilitating microtransactions between players and enabling real-time withdrawals to external bank accounts. ZBD, which has raised $90 million from investors such as Square Enix and RAINE, is expanding its architecture from mobile to PC and console platforms in collaboration with studios like 1047 Games.