External Payment Usage in Chinese Game Companies: Proprietary Systems Gaining Ground Among Industry Leaders

Proprietary External Payment Systems Expanding Among Chinese Game Giants SpiceMart Inc. has conducted a survey on the usage of external payment systems within Chinese game companies. This report analyzes cases from major developers such as Tencent Games, NetEase Games, and miHoYo, focusing on supported titles, payment flows, product design, and promotional strategies, resulting in five key characteristics. The full report is currently available to 'LIVEOPSIS' subscribers, and this release summarizes those findings.

### Survey Overview Conducted from January to March 2026, the survey targeted representative external payment cases in mainland China. The scope included an analysis of the latest commission policies on the App Store and Google Play, as well as the status and comparative analysis of external payment implementation in Chinese gaming.

### Proprietary Systems Gaining Ground Most of the 15 companies surveyed provide external payment options via their official websites or other channels. Industry leaders like Tencent Games and NetEase Games operate proprietary systems that go beyond simple transaction processing, incorporating coupon distribution, loyalty point systems, and limited-time item sales into comprehensive ecosystems.

Promotional trends vary by company size: while major corporations build integrated platforms for multiple titles, medium-sized firms tend to implement these systems on a per-title or per-website basis.

### Impact of Reduced Commission Fees In March 2026, Apple announced a reduction in App Store commission rates in China from 30% to 25%. Google has also announced policies to lower Google Play commissions and permit external payment methods. This trend is expected to improve profitability for small and medium-sized developers in China, leading to increased investment in development and user-focused incentives. Furthermore, it is anticipated that Chinese game companies will accelerate the export of their domestic external payment expertise into global markets.

Looking ahead, it is expected that there will be a continued shift from third-party Android app stores to proprietary official websites or free distribution platforms, alongside a diversification of revenue models including season passes and premium-purchase content.

SpiceMart will continue to monitor these trends. Detailed reports are available via the operational solution 'LIVEOPSIS'.