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AviaGames GDC 2026: Partnerships, Payments, and the Road Ahead

AviaGames

As AviaGames Inc. approaches its 10-year milestone, the company is marking the moment with its first official presence at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2026 in San Francisco. Throughout the event, the team is welcoming conversations at Booth 656, located near Tencent Games and Keywords Studios, where attendees can meet the team to discuss partnerships, business opportunities, and career openings.

In addition to its booth presence, AviaGames is participating in two GDC panels with PayPal and Meta. The first session with PayPal took place on March 11, exploring how payment systems shape player experience and trust in skill-based real money games. The conversation continues on March 12 with Meta, focusing on how brand storytelling and performance marketing can work together to support sustainable growth. The AviaGames team will also remain at GDC through March 13 to connect with partners, developers, and attendees.

Meetings with the AviaGames team can also be scheduled through the GDC Festival of Gaming app.

Who is AviaGames?

Founded in 2016 by AviaGames CEO Vickie Chen and co-founder Ping Wang, the California-based company focuses on skill-based competitive experiences built around fair play. It develops real-money mobile games designed to highlight player ability and balanced competition.

Its flagship title, Solitaire Clash, reimagines the classic Klondike Solitaire card game with competitive tournaments and timed gameplay. Since then, the company has expanded its portfolio to include more than 15 mobile titles, including Bingo Tour, Bingo Clash, and 8 Ball Strike.

Today, the AviaGames platform has surpassed 60 million downloads and supports more than 450 million tournaments each month, reflecting a large and active player community. The company has also received industry recognition, including CEO Vickie Chen being named a finalist for Best Female CEO of the Year at the 2025 Stevie® Awards for Women in Business.

Beyond game development, AviaGames regularly partners with nonprofit organizations to support community initiatives. Programs such as Play for Paws with Nevada SPCA and Wonderland Wishes with Foster Love demonstrate the company’s commitment to charitable engagement alongside product innovation.

What AviaGames Is Showcasing at GDC 2026

With the company approaching its tenth year, GDC provides an opportunity for AviaGames to connect with the broader development community and share insights into the systems and partnerships that support its ecosystem of skill-based mobile games.

Rather than focusing solely on individual titles, the conversations at GDC highlight the underlying elements that shape the player experience, including secure payment infrastructure, dependable payout systems, strategic partnerships, and fair competition frameworks.

Attendees can visit Booth 656 to meet the team, explore potential collaborations, or discuss career opportunities. The booth is open:

Those who prefer to plan can arrange a dedicated meeting with the AviaGames team through the GDC Festival of Gaming app.

AviaGames GDC Panel Sessions

Alongside its booth activities, AviaGames GDC participation includes two sessions that explore key operational and strategic decisions shaping skill-based gaming.

Panel #1: AviaGames and PayPal

From Win to Wallet: Rethinking Player Experience in Skill-Based Gaming
Date & Time: March 11 | 2:50 PM – 3:20 PM
Location: Room 2009, West Hall

Presented in collaboration with PayPal, this session explored what happens between a player’s win and the moment funds reach their wallet. The discussion focused on how payment systems, product design, and trust collectively shape the overall player experience in skill-based gaming.

Justin Butler, Vice President of Digital Money & Commerce Solutions at PayPal, joined AviaGames to discuss how reliable payments, transparent transaction flows, and thoughtful payout design can strengthen player confidence and support long-term engagement. The conversation highlighted how payment infrastructure is not just a backend feature, but a critical part of the gameplay journey from competition to reward.

Panel #2: AviaGames and Meta

Building Growth Through Partnership: A Practical Avia Playbook for Brand + Performance on Meta
Date & Time: March 12 | 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Location: Room 2024, West Hall

The following session with Meta will explore how companies can align brand storytelling with performance marketing strategies. The panel will cover approaches such as creative testing, shared data insights, and coordinated campaign planning designed to support consistent user growth. By bringing brand and performance teams together, the discussion highlights how developers and publishers can build stronger, long-term marketing strategies.

Looking Ahead

As AviaGames enters its 10th year, GDC 2026 offers an opportunity to connect with the broader game development community. From conversations with partners and developers to on-stage discussions with PayPal and Meta, the company shares insights on payments, partnerships, and fair competition in skill-based gaming.

Through its first official GDC presence, AviaGames hopes to build new relationships, exchange ideas with industry peers, and continue growing its portfolio of skill-based real money games.

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