Mobile Industry /
Pocket Gamer Connects Nordics Opens in Helsinki as Mobile Developers Confront Changing Industry Economics
Pocket Gamer Connects Nordics kicks off in Helsinki on October 20, focusing on mobile game commerce, platform regulation, and alternative payment models.
Key facts
- Topic:
- Mobile Industry
- Published:
- 2026-10-20
- Reported by:
- Gameforce Mobile News Desk
Key takeaways
- Pocket Gamer Connects Nordics runs October 20-21 in Helsinki, drawing over 1,500 mobile games industry delegates.
- Diamond Sponsor Xsolla presents strategies for direct-to-consumer web shops, alternative payments, and EU regulatory shifts.
- Sessions evaluate the balance between app store convenience and the operational overhead of self-managed payment infrastructure.
Pocket Gamer Connects Nordics begins in Helsinki today, October 20, bringing together developers, publishers, investors and technology companies for two days of discussions concerning the future of the games industry. The event continues through October 21 and is expected to attract more than 1500 industry professionals. Among the participating organisations is gaming-commerce company Xsolla, which has joined as a Diamond Sponsor.
One of the event's important commercial themes concerns the changing relationship between mobile developers and traditional app stores. Regulatory developments in the European Union and other markets are creating additional opportunities for alternative distribution, external payments and direct relationships between publishers and players. Xsolla is scheduled to present a session examining how developers can build sustainable direct-to-consumer strategies.
Such approaches may include independent web shops, loyalty programmes, subscriptions and alternative payment methods. However, bypassing traditional storefront payment systems does not automatically guarantee higher profitability. Developers must consider fraud prevention, taxation, customer support, regional payment preferences and the additional costs associated with operating independent commercial infrastructure. For smaller studios, those responsibilities can become substantial.
The broader question is how developers can reduce dependence on individual platforms without sacrificing the convenience and trust that established app stores provide. Pocket Gamer Connects also offers networking and investment opportunities, making the event relevant to studios seeking publishers or financing partners. The conference arrives during a period of considerable change for the mobile industry. Apparently developing an excellent game is no longer sufficient.
Publishers must also become remarkably sophisticated international payment companies.
