The ongoing legal clash between Epic Games and tech giant Apple continues to ripple through the gaming industry, challenging Apple’s long-standing dominance over app payment systems. A recent court ruling has dismantled Apple’s monopoly, which forced apps to process payments exclusively through the App Store.
Under pressure from heavy sanctions by the European Union, this shift is now extending to Europe and beyond, impacting Google’s Play Store as well. The change marks a significant victory for developers and gamers alike, loosening the grip of tech giants on a lucrative market.
Apple reported earlier this year that app revenues on iPhones and iPads reached $406 billion in 2024, a 300% surge from 2019. Previously, Apple collected substantial commissions from these transactions, but the court ruling now forces the company to lower its fees significantly. This seismic shift in the industry has opened doors for developers and promises cost savings for users.
Among the biggest beneficiaries of this transformation is Appcharge, an Israeli startup developing direct-to-consumer (DTC) payment platforms for mobile gaming companies. The court’s decision to allow apps to bypass Apple’s payment system has spurred demand for alternative solutions, propelling Appcharge’s growth.
The company’s transaction volume soared 14-fold in the past year, processing over $500 million in deals. “After our last funding round, we told investors we had a full pipeline and enough capital to scale through 2025 or mid-2026,” said Roei Barassi, Appcharge’s general manager and co-founder.
“Then the Apple ruling reshuffled everything. We got a flood of inquiries from clients and funds, and we realized it would be foolish to ignore the opportunity,” he added.
Appcharge announced a third funding round (Series B) on Wednesday, raising $58 million just nine months after its previous round. The company has now secured $89 million in total funding, reflecting strong investor confidence in its potential to reshape mobile gaming commerce.
The funding round was led by IVP, a veteran U.S. venture capital firm with a history of backing companies like Netflix, X (formerly Twitter) and Dropbox. Joining the round were prominent gaming companies, including Ireland-based Playrix, founded by Israeli-Russian brothers Dmitry and Igor Bukhman and South Korea’s Smilegate, both leaders in the global gaming industry.
Existing investors, such as Finnish gaming giant Supercell—creator of the hit game Brawl Stars—also participated, alongside venture capital firms Creandum, BITKRAFT Ventures, Play Ventures, Corundum Open Innovation, Moneta-Venture Capital and Israel’s Glilot Capital Partners. One investor’s strategic stake could evolve into a deeper partnership, signaling Appcharge’s growing influence.
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Appcharge’s platform enables gaming companies to break free from the Apple-Google duopoly by offering DTC solutions. “The court ruling gave us a massive tailwind for DTC,” Barassi explained.
“Three years ago, some companies hesitated to challenge Google and Apple. Now, every gaming company is either building a DTC system or exploring implementation.” Barassi likens Appcharge to “the Shopify of gaming,” providing tools for direct sales, billing, invoicing, tax compliance, fraud protection and customer support.
Over 100 games, spanning casual, strategy, puzzle, role-playing and non-gambling casino genres, use Appcharge’s platform to sell games, expansions, in-game currencies and merchandise like t-shirts and mugs.
These tools also offer coupons and discounts to boost customer retention, driving an average 35% profit increase for gaming companies. Appcharge charges a 5% commission, a sharp contrast to Apple’s previous 30% fee, which has since dropped to 13–18%.
Founded in 2022 by CEO Maor Sasson and Roei Barassi, Appcharge employs 94 people, primarily in Tel Aviv, with additional staff in Europe, the U.S. and the Far East. Many employees, including the founders, hail from gaming companies like Playtika, Rovio, Huuuge Games and Moon Active.
The company is expanding, hiring for development and product roles to support its rapid growth. Appcharge’s annual recurring revenue has reached tens of millions of dollars, with Barassi projecting it will surpass $100 million in 2026. “If most of our pipeline materializes, we’ll exceed that target,” he said. The company’s valuation has quadrupled since its last funding round, reflecting its rising prominence.
Appcharge aims to lead the DTC gaming market, with long-term plans to explore other sectors. “This is a $200 billion-a-year market,” Barassi noted. While acquisition interest from global gaming firms exists, the company is focused on growth. “We have a lot to do in product development and expanding our offerings,” Barassi said. “We’re just getting started.”
Appcharge also announced the appointment of Nadav Hollander as chief financial officer to support its accelerated growth and strengthen its organizational infrastructure.
When asked if this signals a potential Nasdaq IPO, Barassi remained cautious but optimistic. “We’re focused on staying independent and building the company,” he said. “We believe we’ll see a unicorn here in the coming years. An IPO is ambitious for now, but it’s definitely possible.”
IVP partner Karthik Ramakrishnan praised Appcharge’s trajectory. “Appcharge is one of the fastest-growing companies we’ve seen in gaming infrastructure,” he said. “It’s ending an era where mobile game publishers lost huge margins to platforms, building the future with exceptional execution and deep industry expertise.”