Xsolla, a leading global video game commerce company, today announced its participation as a co-host of GamesBeat Engage Chicago 2026 sponsored by Xsolla, an exclusive evening event taking place June 16 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM CT at Row 24 in Chicago, held alongside Unreal Fest. Themed “Riding the Wave of User-Generated Content,” the event will bring together developers, engineers, technical directors, and studio leaders for an evening of structured debates, featured conversations, and industry networking centered on one of gaming’s most consequential shifts: the rise of UGC as both a creative movement and a commercial force.
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User-generated content platforms are reshaping the gaming industry, with a new generation of talent flowing to leading UGC platforms to reach audiences and build businesses. GamesBeat Engage Chicago will explore how content creators are increasingly approaching games as a medium of creation rather than just entertainment and how the tools powering modern game development are evolving to meet the demands of this new class of creators.
At GamesBeat Engage Chicago 2026, Xsolla will host one debate session on June 16:
Debate: Are Individual UGC Creators the Next Generation of Game Developers, or a Parallel Ecosystem? Tuesday, June 16 | 5:00 PM CT
Curated by Xsolla, this 15-minute debate will examine whether leading UGC platforms are producing the next generation of game-developer creators who treat games as creative canvases rather than finished products, or whether their work represents a distinct creative and commercial ecosystem running in parallel with traditional studios. The session will bring together voices from both sides of the industry to debate one of the most pressing questions in game development today.
A second debate, curated by GamesBeat, will pit leading creators from competing UGC platforms together to determine the types of offers which build the stronger foundations for building a UGC gaming business. Confirmed participants include UGC consultant and Max Power Gaming newsletter writer Stephen Dypiangco and creator Tom Jank, moderated by Alexander Lee, Lead News Writer at GamesBeat. The evening will close with a featured fireside conversation on the evolution of Chicago’s gaming industry, with Mike Bilder, CEO of Jackbox Games, joining Alexander Lee on stage.
“User-generated content is no longer a side conversation in the video games industry; it is the conversation. The creators building on leading UGC platforms today are not hobbyists; they are building businesses, and the tools and infrastructure around them need to catch up. GamesBeat Engage Chicago is exactly the kind of forum where that conversation should be happening, and we are proud to be part of it,” said Berkley Egenes, Chief Marketing & Growth Officer at Xsolla.
Developers and industry professionals attending Unreal Fest in Chicago can meet with the Xsolla team on June 16 to learn more about how Xsolla’s commerce infrastructure supports developer growth and monetization strategy.
GAMERSBEAT ENGAGE CHICAGO 2026 Tuesday, June 16, 2026 | Row 24, Chicago
4:00 PM — Arrival & Welcome Reception
4:55 PM — Opening Remarks
5:00 PM — Debate: Are Individual UGC Creators the Next Generation of Game Developers, or a Parallel Ecosystem? (Xsolla)
5:15 PM — Debate: Which UGC Platform Is Best to Build a Gaming Business? (GamesBeat)
5:30 PM — Fireside Chat: Chicago’s Gaming Industry
6:00 PM — Closing Drinks & Connections
To learn more about GamesBeat Engage Chicago 2026 and other events, visit: https://events.gamesbeat.com/engage/
To learn about Xsolla’s participation in GamesBeat Engage Chicago 2026, visit: https://xsolla.pro/GamesBeat-Engage-Chicago
About Xsolla
Xsolla is a global commerce company that builds and provides all the things developers need to launch, grow, and monetize video games. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, the company supports studios of every size, from indie to AAA, with solutions across direct-to-consumer commerce, intelligent payments, entertainment-based IP, and player engagement products. Xsolla helps developers fund, distribute, market, and monetize their games at scale. Trusted by more than 60% of the top 100 highest-grossing games, Xsolla operates as the merchant of record across 200+ geographies with access to over 1,000+ local payment methods worldwide. Grounded in a deep belief in the future of gaming, Xsolla is resolute in bringing opportunities together and unlocking growth for creators everywhere.
For more information, visit xsolla.com.
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