AviaGames’ presence at this year’s Game Developers Conference reflected how far the company has come over the past decade. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the team stepped onto the GDC 2026 show floor in San Francisco from March 11–13 for the first time, marking a major step in its growth within the gaming industry. Guided by AviaGames CEO Vickie Chen, the company continues to focus on building better player experiences while expanding its reach.
Across the event, AviaGames connected with a wide range of attendees, including developers, partners, and members of the gaming community. The booth became a central point for conversations, where visitors explored their games, asked about career opportunities, and learned more about the company’s direction.
A big part of AviaGames’ participation at GDC 2026 also came through its sessions with key partners. Working with PayPal, the team introduced “From Win to Wallet: Rethinking Player Experience in Skill-Based Gaming,” focusing on how smooth payment systems contribute to player trust. Another session, created in collaboration with Meta, explored how combining brand storytelling with performance marketing can drive sustainable growth.
AviaGames Booth Experience and Community Connection
The booth itself was designed to feel open and interactive rather than purely informational. Located at Booth 656, it consistently drew large crowds, reaching around 2,000 visitors per day.
Attendees didn’t just observe, they played. Games like Solitaire Clash and Bingo Tour were available for hands-on experience, allowing visitors to see how simple mechanics can still deliver engaging, skill-based gameplay.
One clear sign of success was repeat visits. Many attendees returned to the booth to try the games again, especially Solitaire Clash. That level of return engagement showed that the experience left a strong impression.
Beyond gameplay, the space also encourages real conversations. Whether discussing partnerships or career paths, the booth created opportunities for deeper connections with the community.
Avia and PayPal: Enhancing Player Experience Through Payments
During the session with PayPal, the focus was placed on how payment systems influence player confidence. “From Win to Wallet” highlighted the importance of reliability and ease when it comes to transactions in skill-based games.
Through this partnership, AviaGames built a secure payment system supported by real-time security monitoring. The results included an 80 percent reduction in payment-related support requests, a 53 percent increase in same-day return rates, a 39 percent improvement in 30-day retention, and a 28 percent rise in player lifetime value.
The session emphasized that improving the payment experience can directly impact long-term player engagement.
AviaGames Partnered with Meta on Sustainable Growth
In collaboration with Meta, AviaGames also explored how to approach growth in a more connected way. As user acquisition costs continue to rise, the session showed how aligning brand messaging with performance data can help maintain efficiency while building stronger relationships with players.
Campaigns such as Play for Paws were highlighted as examples of this strategy in action. By combining storytelling with Meta’s Advantage+ tools, the campaign achieved better ad performance, improved return on ad spend, and reduced conversion costs.
The discussion reinforced the value of treating brand and performance as part of the same system.
What This Means for AviaGames Moving Forward
GDC 2026 showed that progress is driven by more than just products. Strong connections, strategic partnerships, and a consistent focus on players all played a role in the event’s success. With thousands of daily visitors and collaborations with PayPal and Meta, AviaGames demonstrated how engagement and teamwork can create meaningful results.
Three key takeaways stood out: relationships matter, partnerships create impact, and keeping players at the center leads to better outcomes.
Whether you experienced the event in person or are learning about AviaGames now, this is a great time to get involved. Explore the games, connect with the community, and follow what comes next.
