Campaign attribution for free-to-play games

Free-to-play model

Free-to-play is a business model for distribution of computer and mobile games, which allows the user to play without having to pay for it. The main way to monetize free-to-play games is through in-game purchases. Many popular and commercially successful games currently use free-to-play monetization.

Attribution

With the campaign attribution, you can assign transactions to specific creators and make the correct payouts for their participation in campaigns.

The following attribution types are available in Partner Network campaigns:

• Promo code. This is a unique code that allows a user to receive a discount for their purchase while paying for it.

• Sending data in token. This is an attribution type in which the data required to track a purchase is sent in a token.

• Registration event. This is a way to attribute users’ in-game purchases using their User ID from the game.

• Tracking link. This is a unique link to the game site that the creator uses to distribute the game.

According to the degree of reliability, the gradation of attribution types is as follows:

• promo code
• sending data in token
• registration event
• tracking link

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Set attribution in campaigns

Promo code

Fixed discount

To set up a campaign attribution using a promo code with a fixed discount:

1. Open your project in Publisher Account.
2. Click Partner Network in the side menu and go to Managing campaigns.
3. Create a campaign or edit the existing one.
4. On the Campaign details tab, set Enable promo codes to On in the Campaign details section and select Fixed discount.
5. Set the discount percentage. The percentage cannot exceed the Revenue sharing percentage set in the Campaign terms section.

Flexible discount

To set up a campaign attribution using a promo code with a flexible discount:

1. Open your project in Publisher Account.
2. Click Partner Network in the side menu and go to Managing campaigns.
3. Create a campaign or edit the existing one.
4. On the Campaign details tab, set Enable promo codes to On in the Campaign details section and select Flexible discount.
5. Set lower and upper boundaries for the discount. The percentage cannot exceed the Revenue sharing percentage set in the Campaign terms section.

Sending data in token

To set up a campaign attribution with sending data in token, use the Create token call. Send information about the user in the tracking_id parameter.

Registration event

To integrate tracking analytics:

1. Get a JSON Web Token (JWT).
2. Save tracking_id from the request parameter to your website cookies. Example of a request: https://playnewz.com?utm_source=n6LI9yVu&utm_campaign=5b9bff5f9d31b&tracking_id=19e2DLjNTk2YOdXA4d8J3NReNkXNafhC.
3. After a new user is created, send user_id and tracking_id via the Registration Event Sending method.
   • It’s recommended to send requests asynchronously, so it doesn’t interfere with user registration while awaiting the Xsolla Tracking API response.
   • Otherwise, use timeout. Note that new users won’t be tracked if awaiting the Xsolla Tracking API response takes longer than specified.
4. To create and manage custom events, implement the following Tracking API methods: create, initialize and send an event.
5. Implement the tracking script on your website.

Tracking link

To set up a campaign attribution using a tracking link:

1. Open your project in Publisher Account.
2. Click Partner Network in the side menu and go to Managing campaigns.
3. Create a campaign or edit the existing one.
4. On the Campaign settings tab, enter your site URL in the Campaign details section. It will be automatically converted into a unique tracking link.

Last updated: July 9, 2025