Xsolla is partnering with identity-management company Privo Inc. to release a new feature called Parental Control. The goal is to protect child privacy online. Xsolla, a video game commerce company based in Sherman Oaks, offers a suite of products to help developers market, distribute and monetize their games, and its clients include Twitch, Ubisoft, Epic Games Inc. and Valve Corp.
Parental Control, which requires approval from a parent or guardian for in-game purchases, will be integrated later this year into the suite of products that Xsolla offers to game developers. The new tool also allows a parent or guardian to manage access to gaming content and notify them of their child’s online activity. Xsolla said that this can help developers remain compliant with federal safety and security policies such as the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule, which imposes requirements about how online services handle users under the age of 13.
“(We) welcome the steps being taken by Xsolla to provide parents with control over online payments while still allowing children to play and engage online,” said Privo Chief Executive Denise Tayloe. “Privacy protections for children and transparency regarding parents’ online spending habits are increasingly essential to building trust.”
Xsolla previously announced a partnership with Mastercard in February which, through a program called Pay with Points, lets cardholders purchase games or in-game items with their loyalty points.
The company said that requiring approval for in-game purchases with Parental Control can also help increase compliance with global privacy rules and enhance the success of a game developer’s marketplace by reducing potential disputes and increasing payment-security measures.
The Parental Control feature will be presented at Gamescom, an industry trade fair in Germany, later this month.
“At Xsolla, our dedication extends beyond enhancing the gaming experience; we’re equally engaged in fostering constructive transformation as the industry persistently expands,” said Anton Zelenin, Xsolla’s chief revenue officer.