Gamescom 2025: How We Made the 30% Bite Impossible to Ignore

Gamescom has always been the stage where the future of gaming takes shape. This year, we came to Cologne with one goal: make the industry feel the 30% app store tax. And we did just that.

The Bitten iPhones

Dozens of iPhones, each with a literal bite taken out of them, found their way into the hands of industry leaders.

The message was simple:

👉 Skip the 30% tax.

👉 Reclaim your revenue.

That’s what Appcharge is here for. 

The Booth That Buzzed

Inside the convention center, our booth became a hub of energy. A live DJ kept the rhythm, people shared conversations over impeccable sushi plates, and great drinks kept the energy flowing. 

Billboards Across Cologne

It wasn’t just inside the conference hall. Across Cologne, our billboards carried the same message loud and clear: “Fed up with those 30% bites?”

Thousands of industry leaders, players, and visitors passed them every day.

Momentum Beyond Gamescom

The stunt was only part of the story. Gamescom came on the heels of major milestones for Appcharge:

• $58M Series B funding announced just days before Cologne.

• The launch of our new website, reflecting our growth into a global DTC platform.

• A new industry report: What Processing $500M in Transactions Taught Us About DTC Web Stores. We even printed it as a pocket-sized book—dozens were shared at Gamescom, and we saw them in people’s hands across the halls.

Gamescom 2025 confirmed what we already knew: the industry is ready for change. Publishers want control, players want more value, and DTC is the path forward.

Thank you to everyone who joined us—whether it was for sushi, a conversation, or to grab one of those bitten iPhones.

This is just the beginning. The 30% bite won’t last forever. And we’re here to help publishers reclaim what’s theirs.