Merchant of record meets alternative iOS marketplaces

A partnership between Xsolla and Skich creates an alternative mobile game marketplace operating under the EU DMA environment.

The important detail is the merchant-of-record role. Alternative distribution does not remove commerce complexity; it moves more of that complexity into the vendor and publisher stack. Tax, payment methods, refunds, support expectations, and compliance all still need an owner.

For game teams watching D2C, this is a reminder that "outside the app store" is not one channel. Web shops, external purchase links, alternative marketplaces, and embedded payment flows each create a different operating model.

Source:

• Business Wire: Xsolla and Skich announce strategic partnership