As AviaGames approached its 10th anniversary, the company made its first official appearance at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2026 in San Francisco. The team welcomed visitors at Booth 656 near Tencent Games and Keywords Studios to discuss partnerships, business opportunities, and career openings.
AviaGames GDC also has two panels with PayPal and Meta. The first session with PayPal took place on March 11, focusing on how payment systems influence player experience and trust in skill-based real money games. The second session with Meta on March 12 explored how brand storytelling and performance marketing can work together to support long-term growth.
The team remained at GDC through March 13, and meetings were scheduled through the GDC Festival of Gaming app.
Who Is AviaGames?
Founded in 2016 by AviaGames CEO Vickie Chen and co-founder Ping Wang, the California-based company develops mobile games built around skill-based competition and fair play. Its games focus on player ability, offering competitive formats designed to create balanced gameplay.
One of the company’s most recognizable titles is Solitaire Clash , which transforms the classic Klondike Solitaire card game into a competitive experience with timed matches and tournaments. Over time, AviaGames has expanded its lineup to include more than 15 titles, including Bingo Tour , Bingo Clash , and 8 Ball Strike.
The AviaGames platform has now surpassed 60 million downloads and supports over 450 million tournaments each month, showing strong engagement from its player community. The company has also received industry recognition, including CEO Vickie Chen being named a finalist for Best Female CEO of the Year at the 2025 Stevie Awards for Women in Business.
In addition to game development, AviaGames partners with nonprofit organizations on community initiatives. Campaigns such as Play for Paws with Nevada SPCA and Wonderland Wishes with Foster Love highlight the company’s commitment to supporting charitable causes.
What AviaGames Brought to GDC
With the company nearing its 10-year milestone, GDC provided an opportunity for AviaGames to connect with the broader gaming industry and talk about the systems that support skill-based mobile games.
The discussions went beyond individual titles. Instead, the focus was on the factors that shape the player experience, including secure payment systems, reliable payouts, strategic partnerships, and fair competition.
Attendees stopped by Booth 656 to meet the team, discuss potential collaborations, or learn about career opportunities. The booth was open:
March 11–12: 10:00 AM — 6:00 PM
March 13: 10:00 AM — 3:00 PM
AviaGames Panel Sessions at GDC
As part of AviaGames’ GDC participation, the company was involved in two panel sessions focused on topics that influence the future of skill-based gaming.
AviaGames Panel Sessions with PayPal and Meta
AviaGames x PayPal: Payments and Trust
From Win to Wallet: Rethinking Player Experience in Skill-Based Gaming
Date & Time: March 11 | 2:50 PM — 3:20 PM
Location: Room 2009, West Hall
Hosted in partnership with PayPal, this session explored what happens between the moment a player wins a game and when the payout reaches their wallet.
The conversation looked at how payments, product design, and players’ trust work together to shape the full experience in skill-based games. Justin Butler, Vice President of Digital Money & Commerce Solutions at PayPal, joined the discussion with AviaGames.
The panel covered topics such as reliable payment processing, transparent transaction flows, and the role of payout systems in building player confidence. One key takeaway was that payment infrastructure plays an important role in the overall player experience in real money games.
AviaGames and Meta: Brand + Performance Growth
Building Growth Through Partnership: A Practical Avia Playbook for Brand + Performance on Meta
Date & Time: March 12 | 2:00 PM — 2:30 PM
Location: Room 2024, West Hall
The second session with Meta focused on how companies can align brand storytelling with performance marketing strategies.
The panel looked at areas such as creative testing, data-driven insights, and coordinated campaign planning. By bringing brand and performance teams together, the session highlighted ways developers and publishers can support steady user growth and long-term marketing success.
What’s Next for AviaGames
As AviaGames approached its 10th year, GDC 2026 offered an opportunity to connect with the wider game development community. Through discussions with PayPal and Meta, as well as conversations with partners and developers at the event, the company shared how payments, partnerships, and fair competition shape the future of skill-based gaming.
With its first official appearance at GDC, AviaGames focused on meeting new partners, exchanging ideas with industry peers, and continuing to grow its portfolio of skill-based real money games.
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