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Xsolla Launches State of Play and Xsolla Conversations to Spark New Industry Dialogue through Podcast Storytelling
Xsolla, a leading global video game commerce company, announced the launch of a new podcast content ecosystem designed to inform, inspire, and connect the global games industry. Anchored by the flagship series State of Play and supported by the fast-paced companion show Xsolla Conversations, the company’s new audio strategy seeks to surface meaningful stories, emerging trends, and practical insights from the people building the future of games.
At a time when platform policies are shifting, monetization models are evolving, and developers are facing increasingly complex challenges, these podcasts provide a timely and much-needed forum for dialogue. Each show plays a distinct role in Xsolla’s mission to foster transparency, education, and thought leadership within the industry.
State of Play is the centerpiece of this strategy. It’s a narrative podcast created for decision-makers in the games business, combining long-form interviews, editorial storytelling, and immersive sound design. Hosted and narrated by Chris Hewish, Xsolla’s Chief Strategy Officer, along with co-host Lia Ballentine and Joe Pierpont, the show offers a documentary-style look at what’s impacting the business of games, from high-profile platform battles and regulatory shifts to breakthrough trends in direct-to-consumer strategies. Episodes are carefully structured to walk listeners through a multi-perspective journey, weaving in the voices of founders, economists, product leads, and policy experts. With rich production and a journalist’s curiosity, State of Play delivers context and clarity in a world where change is constant.
In contrast, Xsolla Conversations provides a more nimble, informal listening experience. These short-form episodes, typically under 20 minutes, are designed to surface key insights in real time. They feature candid interviews with Xsolla partners, internal experts, and developers worldwide who are experimenting, adapting, and finding success in today’s market.
The first slate of episodes from Xsolla Conversations highlights the diversity of voices shaping the industry. In “Rethinking Mobile Game Finance,” Niantic CFO Jeff Shouger joins Chris Hewish for an honest conversation about Niantic’s move into web shops. Shouger details what it took to shift from platform-restricted monetization to a more direct, data-rich model. Shouger shares hard-won lessons about the importance of agility, the internal decision-making process behind going DTC, and what other developers can learn from Niantic’s experience.
In another episode, “Where Mobile Monetization Is Headed,” Xsolla’s own Artem Liubutov sits down with Hewish to unpack what makes a webshop succeed. The conversation explores both the technical considerations and the behavioral factors at play, offering grounded advice for developers who want to take more control over their revenue streams in an era of platform uncertainty.
“The Power of Player Communities” brings another critical perspective, as AJ Sath of Xsolla speaks with Stephen Lee of Deca Games. Their conversation focuses on long-term player retention and the cultural architecture behind thriving game communities. Lee discusses how Deca Games approaches live ops and community-driven design not just to extend the life of a title, but to create environments that players want to invest in over time.
According to Hewish, these conversations reflect Xsolla’s core philosophy: that the best ideas come from practitioners. “We created State of Play and Xsolla Conversations to elevate real stories from the people doing the work,” said Hewish. “Whether you’re a developer launching your first game or an executive navigating global business decisions, you deserve content that doesn’t just inform, but connects. These shows are about substance, not soundbites. And they’re part of our broader effort to make the business of games more transparent, collaborative, and resilient.”
Both podcasts are part of a strategic content engine that feeds Xsolla’s broader communications platform. Episodes are shared via major podcast platforms and repurposed into blog posts, LinkedIn articles, conference narratives, and social media content, ensuring that the insights don’t stop at audio but travel across the formats and channels where developers already live and learn.
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Plaza Hotel & Casino to celebrate Fourth of July with a holiday edition of its free Welcome to the Weekend Friday Fireworks
The Plaza Hotel & Casino will celebrate the Fourth of July with a bigger and brighter version of its weekly Welcome to the Weekend Friday Firework Show. As in past years, it will be the only Fourth of July fireworks show in downtown Las Vegas, and it is free to view.
Staged from the top of the Plaza’s South Tower on Friday, July 4, at 9:15 p.m., the public can watch the fireworks for free from in front of the Plaza on Main Street, which will be closed to vehicular traffic for viewing the fireworks from Carson Avenue to Ogden Avenue. Guests can also watch the fireworks from a free viewing party on the Plaza’s rooftop pool deck. Doors open for the rooftop viewing party at 7 p.m.
Also on July 4, the Plaza will host a Buffalo wing eating contest at Carousel Bar at 6 p.m. Inspired by the popular Buffalo wing eating competitions in Philadelphia, qualifying “Wing Offs” and the championship “Wing Bowl”, the July 4 contest will be a qualifying event for the Plaza’s main Wing Bowl event on Feb. 7, 2026. The Plaza will award $1,000 to the person who eats the most Buffalo wings in 10 minutes on July 4. The first and second place eaters will qualify for the Plaza’s Wing Bowl in February.
Carousel Bar and the rooftop pool will also feature special summertime cocktails. The rooftop fireworks viewing party will feature three specialty cocktails: a margarita with Casamigos Blanco Tequila and Cointreau Orange Liqueur, the “Cruiser & Captain” with Sun Cruiser Iced Tea, vodka, and a shot of Captain Morgan Sweet Chili Lime Rum, and the “You Call It” featuring Captain Morgan Sweet Chili Lime Rum.
The Plaza’s fireworks will be dependent on weather conditions and are subject to change or cancellation.
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EDGE Boost Launches Social Accountability Program, Adding Peer-based Accountability to its Roster of Responsible Gaming Tools
EDGE Markets, the company behind EDGE Boost, one of the first debit cards designed specifically for responsible gaming, announced the launch of its newest responsible gaming feature: a co-pilot system for social accountability. Through the EDGE Boost platform, users can nominate trusted friends or family to receive weekly reports of their transactions and participate in real-time limit adjustments, creating a shared commitment to more responsible play.
Social accountability leans on a core behavioral insight that accountability works best when it comes from someone you know, not a faceless platform or app. Early adoption of the co-pilot system has already exceeded expectations with 7% of EDGE Boost users enabling the feature, far surpassing the industry standard of 1-2% adoption for similar, operator-based responsible gaming tools.
“The reason why the co-pilot feature has been so successful is peer involvement. Social accountability is why having a gym buddy works. By involving a buddy in your betting lifestyle, one is set up even better for responsible play. We have always said that EDGE Boost’s mission is to provide a safer and more responsible environment for users to engage with gaming and we know social accountability is doing just that,” said Seni Thomas, Founder and CEO of EDGE Boost.
Co-pilots will receive weekly snapshots of a user’s EDGE Boost transactions. If a user attempts to raise their deposit or spending limits, a co-pilot must enter a verification code before the change can take effect.
The new feature aligns with the American Gambling Association’s (AGA) evolving Responsible Gaming Code of Conduct. Social accountability also helps foster responsible gaming by avoiding punitive approaches and reducing negative stigma.
The co-pilot feature is now live and available to all EDGE Boost users.
nVenue, the industry-leading B2B enterprise platform providing predictive data analytics for leagues, media, and gaming, announced the appointment of Matt Holt to the Company’s board. Holt brings over 15 years of experience in the sports and gaming industries and has been an instrumental figure in the development of U.S. sports betting.
“We are thrilled to welcome Matt to the nVenue team. His deep operational experience and extensive network of relationships in the sports and gaming industry will be invaluable as we continue to grow our business,” said Quinton Singleton, President & COO of nVenue.
Holt is founder and served as Chief Executive Officer for U.S. Integrity, where he led development of sports integrity for professional and collegiate sporting leagues across the US.
“I am excited to join nVenue at such a pivotal time in the company’s growth. nVenue is the industry-leading provider of live and micro market products, and their innovative technology is revolutionizing the way leagues and the global gaming industry pivot into the high growth sector of real-time engagement in sports. I look forward to working with the team to expand in the U.S. and international markets,” said Holt.
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