Throughout the year, we launched our first year of creator rewards, reached over 3,000 global sign-ups, and now support more than 1,000 active stores worldwide.

None of this would have been possible without the incredible support of our community. We are truly grateful to everyone who has helped us reach these milestones.

The Numbers That Matter

Let's talk about growth. Our Discord community and active creator base tripled this year. That's not just sign-ups, that's real people building real stores and processing real revenue on our platform.

We crossed $1 million in monthly processing volume. For context, we launched this platform to solve problems we saw in gaming monetization, problems that other platforms weren't addressing. Hitting this milestone proves that creators recognize the difference between a payment processor and a proper merchant of record that handles compliance, fraud, and chargebacks on their behalf.

Over 3,000 creators have signed up globally, with more than 1,000 active stores currently using PayNow. They've chosen to trust us with their revenue, and we don't take that lightly.

Rust Market Dominance

We now control the Rust game server marketshare. The top servers in the ecosystem (WarBandits, Atlas, Vital, Rustopia, Brit Rust, Rusticated, Stevious, Hollow Servers, Bestrust Servers, and many more) all run on PayNow.

This didn't happen by accident. We earned this position by delivering what mattered most: support that actually helps, fees that don't eat into profits, and APIs flexible enough to build anything.

When your server is processing thousands of transactions monthly, chargeback protection and tax compliance aren't nice-to-haves, they're requirements. We've covered nearly $100,000 in chargebacks and disputes for our creators since launch. That's money that stayed in your pocket instead of being clawed back by payment processors.

And when something goes wrong or you need help, we're here. Our support team is responsive and knowledgeable because we understand the problems you're trying to solve.

Major Releases

We shipped over 50 updates this year, but a few stood out as game-changers for how creators monetize their servers.

Leaving Beta

In January 2025, we officially left invite-only beta and opened PayNow to everyone. What started as a closed platform for select creators became available to the entire gaming community.

PayNow.js Embedded Checkout

This was our most requested feature, and we delivered. PayNow.js lets you embed the entire checkout flow directly into your website as an iframe. No redirects, no context switching, just a smooth purchase experience that keeps players on your site.

The impact on conversion rates has been significant. When customers don't have to leave your site to complete a purchase, more of them finish the transaction. It works perfectly on mobile (where a huge portion of gaming purchases happen), and the integration is straightforward. If you can add a script tag, you can implement PayNow.js.

Lunar Client Integration

Following the release of our iframe checkout, Lunar Client implemented PayNow directly into their client on December 17th. For those unfamiliar, Lunar Client is one of the most popular Minecraft clients, used by players across competitive and casual servers.

This integration means players using Lunar Client can now complete their checkout in-game without ever opening a browser. When a player clicks a purchase link, the PayNow checkout appears directly in the Lunar Client interface. The experience is seamless, and the conversion potential is massive.

We've also seen incredible community support here. Creator Kyllian built a free plugin that takes this even further, letting you build your entire store in-game using Minecraft GUIs. Players can browse products, view details, and complete purchases entirely within Minecraft using both Lunar Client checkout and fallback URL generation for players on other clients. That's what happens when you give creators the right tools.

Trial Subscriptions

We added native support for trial subscriptions. Creators can now offer trials that automatically convert to the full monthly price. This lowers the barrier to entry for new customers and lets them experience premium features before committing to a purchase.

The psychology is simple: players are hesitant to spend $20-30 on a rank they've never tried, but a free trial they can cancel anytime is an easy decision. Once they experience the benefits and invest time with those perks active, many let it convert naturally. While conversion rates vary, that trial revenue adds up, and the players who do convert often become long-term subscribers.

Abandoned Cart Recovery

We launched abandoned cart tracking with automated follow-up emails and command execution. When a customer starts checkout but doesn't complete the purchase, you can now automatically re-engage them with targeted emails or trigger in-game notifications.

This feature recovers revenue that would otherwise be lost. Not every abandoned cart represents a lost sale, sometimes customers get distracted, encounter technical issues, or simply need a reminder. Automated follow-up turns some of those incomplete checkouts into completed purchases.

Affiliate Links & Revenue Splits

We added support for affiliate links that let creators share revenue with partners, influencers, or community members. Set custom commission rates and track referral performance. This opened up new ways for creators to grow their audience and reward community contributions.

Regional Payment Methods

We expanded our payment method coverage significantly throughout the year, adding regional options that matter to gaming audiences around the world. We now support over 75 payment methods globally, making it easier for players to pay however they prefer.

Creator Innovation

We're incredibly proud of what our creators have built using our storefront APIs. The headless approach we've taken means creators aren't locked into a single template or design system. They can build completely custom checkout experiences that match their brand and optimize for conversion.

We've seen creators build stunning custom storefronts with unique designs, optimized user flows, and game-specific features that wouldn't be possible with a rigid, one-size-fits-all platform. This is what separates PayNow from other payment processors: we give creators the tools to build exactly what they need, not what we think they should have.

Founders Edition Rewards

This year we launched our first annual rewards program, the 2025 Founders Edition. We recognized stores in the top 40% of earners on our platform with physical trophies as a thank you for being part of PayNow's early growth.

These weren't digital badges or certificates. We shipped actual trophies to creators around the world, and most have already arrived. This program reflects our appreciation for the creators who've helped build PayNow into what it is today. We're just getting started, and you've been here from the beginning.

What's Coming in 2026

We're not slowing down. Here's what we're actively working on:

More Payment Methods

PaySafeCard is coming soon, expanding our coverage for European players who prefer prepaid payment options. We currently support over 75 payment methods globally, and we're continuing to add regional options that matter to gaming audiences.

Checkout Upselling

We're building native upselling capabilities that let you promote additional items during checkout. When a customer is about to complete their purchase, you'll be able to suggest complementary products or upgrades, increasing your average order value with minimal friction.

Adaptive Currency Pricing

We're building adaptive currency pricing that lets customers pay in their local currency while you still settle in your preferred currency. This removes friction for international customers and improves authorization rates by letting them transact in whatever currency makes sense for them.

Expanded Game Support

Hytale integration is planned and will be ready as soon as the game releases. We're also adding Rust Console support and planning expansion into additional games beyond our current offerings. RCON integration is still in development, which will open the door to supporting any game that uses the RCON protocol without requiring custom plugins.

Store Dashboard Redesign

We're overhauling the store dashboard to make analytics clearer, navigation faster, and management more intuitive. More details coming as we get closer to launch.

Thank You

As we head into 2026, we have big plans and major updates on the way. We can't wait to share what's next.

To everyone who chose PayNow this year: thank you. Your trust means everything, and we're committed to building the best monetization platform in gaming.

If you're not already part of the PayNow community, now's the time to join. We handle chargebacks, tax compliance, and fraud protection so you don't have to. Our platform fees are as low as 2.5%, and you get access to over 75 payment methods worldwide. Whether you're running a Rust server, a Minecraft network, or planning for the future with games like Hytale, we've built PayNow for creators who want to focus on their community, not payment processing headaches.

Get started at paynow.gg. Our documentation is at docs.paynow.gg, and we're always available in Discord at discord.gg/paynow.

Here's to a new year and an even better one ahead.