FastSpring, a leading global payments platform for over 3,500 growth-stage companies including top video game publishers, has hired Chip Thurston as Head of Gaming. Thurston formerly served as Director of Product at Scopely and Monetization Lead at SciPlay.

As the mobile direct-to-consumer (D2C) landscape continues to evolve through lawsuits and regulation changes happening around the world, Thurston will lead efforts to help enable mobile publishers through education, strategy, and technology to take advantage of this very unique opportunity in the history of mobile games. He will work with publishers on D2C monetization strategies that include the development of go-to-market tactics for promoting shops outside of mobile games, pairing web shop marketing with existing live service campaigns, and gracefully coupling in-game experiences with web shop experiences.

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Thurston states that, “Now is the perfect time for D2C growth in the gaming industry, and I couldn’t be more excited to join FastSpring to lead the company’s efforts to help publishers embrace a D2C future. I’ve been honored to work for amazing companies like Scopely and SciPlay, and I’m looking forward to supporting the rest of the community in their quests to establish more direct relationships with players while strengthening their own financial success with D2C.”

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Thurston led monetization and marketing for “Monopoly Slots” at SciPlay before moving to Scopely as a senior product leader for the wildly popular mobile titles “WWE Champions” and “Yahtzee with Buddies.” His expertise in modern mobile live service games and delivering excellent player experiences comes from balancing live service monetization, in-game experiences, D2C strategies, and go-to-market execution.

With his experience at top mobile publishers and a deep background in D2C marketing and merchandising, Thurston joins FastSpring to continue helping the mobile games publishing community to embrace a more open future.