AviaGames at GDC 2026: Highlights from Our First Showcase in the 10th Year

AviaGames made a successful debut at GDC 2026 in our 10th anniversary year. Held from March 11–13, the event provided an exciting environment that allowed our team to showcase their creative work while building professional connections and sharing our games with the gaming community.

At the conference, we partnered with PayPal to present "From Win to Wallet: Rethinking Player Experience in Skill-Based Gaming," and collaborated with Meta on "Building Growth Through Partnership: A Practical Avia Playbook for Brand + Performance on Meta".

The booth was designed as a multi-functional space that combined product experiences with opportunities for industry exchange, allowing attendees to engage directly with our games and team.

The booth saw steady traffic throughout the event, welcoming over 2,000 visitors per day. This level of engagement reflected strong interest from both players and industry professionals.

Many attendees approached the booth out of curiosity, asking about AviaGames. After seeing our products, the common response that followed was:

"Oh, I've heard about Solitaire Clash."

This recognition highlighted growing awareness of our games in the market.

The gameplay demo area was one of the most active parts of the booth, where attendees experienced Solitaire Clash and Bingo Tour at dedicated stations.

The combination of accessible gameplay and skill-based mechanics kept visitors engaged, with many returning multiple times throughout the event. This repeat interaction reflected the replayability and appeal of our core titles.

The booth also served as a space to connect with developers, partners, and industry professionals.

We engaged with nearly 500 developers and industry professionals, and close to 100 companies across payments, technology, publishing, and marketing met with us to explore potential collaborations. These interactions helped strengthen existing relationships and identify new partnership opportunities.

A light, unexpected highlight came from a special guest: a friendly dog that quickly drew attention from attendees.

This added an approachable and engaging element to the booth, encouraging more visitors to stop by and interact with our team and products.

Across our sessions with PayPal and Meta, a consistent theme emerged: growth in skill-based real-money gaming depends on more than gameplay alone.

From our work with PayPal, we saw how seamless payments and trust directly influence player retention and long-term engagement. From our collaboration with Meta, we explored how combining brand storytelling with performance marketing enables scalable, efficient growth.

Together, these perspectives highlight a broader shift — success comes from building a connected system where player experience, trust, and growth strategies work together.

As we marked our 10th anniversary at GDC 2026, the event reinforced this direction across every part of our presence, from our booth experience to our sessions.

Through the booth, we connected directly with players and partners, bringing our games to life in an interactive environment. Through our sessions with PayPal and Meta, we explored how trust, payments, and scalable marketing shape long-term success.

Taken together, these experiences point to a clear takeaway: in skill-based real-money gaming, winning requires more than strong gameplay. It requires a seamless, end-to-end experience that players can trust and return to.

We're grateful to everyone who visited the booth, experienced our games, and joined our sessions. Your feedback and engagement continue to shape how we evolve.