Chris Hewish
Profile Verified by The Marque
Last Updated: 22 Sep 2026
President; Interim CEO (May 2023-March 2024)
Los Angeles, US
Profile Verified by The Marque
Last Updated: 22 Sep 2026
THE MARQUE
In Their Own Right
Biography
Chris Hewish is known for blending creative vision with operational precision, delivering lasting impact across a career at the forefront of the global games industry. He has shaped billion-dollar franchises, scaled high-performing teams, and led through some of the most pivotal transformations in gametech and fintech.
From Activision and DreamWorks to Survios, Skydance, and now Xsolla, alongside a few startups, Chris has built and led world-class, award-winning studios. He has delivered nearly 100 projects that reached hundreds of millions of players and generated billions in revenue. His leadership is defined by measurable results and by the cultures of innovation, resilience, and passion he cultivates.
Chris believes the future of games belongs to those who empower creators and respect players. It is a vision built on direct connection, where developers own their relationships, define their economies, and build sustainable businesses on their terms. For him, it is not just about how games are made, but how they are shared. Personally. Passionately. Player first.
Whether leading Xsolla’s largest acquisition, launching market-defining products such as the Web Shop, or turning underperforming assets into industry-leading studios, Chris operates with a dual focus: strategic depth and human-centered leadership. He is just as comfortable negotiating with banks and governments as he was writing an Ork-themed letter to land his first job in games. That blend of bold creativity and disciplined execution has shaped his path from designer to executive.
The Record
Background
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2020 — Present
President; Interim CEO (May 2023-March 2024)
Xsolla
Xsolla is a global financial technology and video game commerce company that provides developers and publishers with tools to launch, distribute, and monetize games worldwide. Its integrated platform simplifies payments, player engagement, and cross-border commerce, enabling partners to scale their businesses across multiple markets and platforms.
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2017 — 2019
EVP Interactive, Head of Studio (Skydance Interactive)
Skydance
Skydance is a diversified entertainment company spanning film, television, animation, and interactive media. As EVP Interactive and Head of Studio, Chris built and led the company’s entire interactive division, overseeing strategy, slate planning, licensing, co-productions, business development, and the day-to-day operations of a 130-person development and publishing studio.
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2015 — 2017
Head of Studio
Survios
Survios is a virtual reality developer and publisher known for premium, immersive experiences across major VR platforms. Chris served as Head of Studio at Survios, where he scaled and led development and publishing operations for this globally recognized VR content studio.
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2008 — 2014
Head of Global Interactive
DreamWorks Animation
DreamWorks Animation is a global animation studio behind major franchises including Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar, and How to Train Your Dragon. Chris was Head of Global Interactive at the studio, where he managed the company’s interactive licensing and co-production business across console, PC, and mobile platforms.
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2006 — 2008
Lead Creative and Game Designer
Luxoflux
Luxoflux was a Santa Monica–based video game developer owned by Activision, known for console franchises including True Crime before the studio’s closure in 2010. Chris was a senior creative and game designer at the company, working on large-scale, publisher-funded console games as part of Activision’s internal studio network.
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1995 — 2005
Executive Producer and Creative Executive
Activision
Activision is a global video game publisher known for major franchises across console, PC, and emerging platforms. As an Executive Producer and Creative Executive, Chris worked on internal and external projects with responsibility for creative direction, production oversight, and P&L management.
In The News
Newsfeed
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11 September 2026 · Knowledge
Xsolla president Chris Hewish on the rising importance of direct-to-consumer
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9 September 2026 · International Business Times
Why 100 Million Downloads Can Still Leave a Game Studio Fragile
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12 August 2026 · Business Wire
Xsolla Web Shop Becomes a Complete D2C Ecosystem for Mobile Games
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11 August 2026 · Business Wire
Xsolla Adds CLI to Its AI Toolkit, Taking Game Developers From First Prompt to a Working Web Shop
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10 August 2026 · Los Angeles Times
Xsolla Launches AI Toolkit for Engine-Agnostic Game Commerce Setup
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4 August 2026 · Businesswire
Xsolla Launches AI Toolkit, Enabling Engine-Agnostic Game Commerce Setup With AI Coding Tools
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15 July 2026 · The Sun
Xsolla and MSU sign MoU to connect future game developers with global commercial opportunities
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15 July 2026 · Business Wire
Xsolla Releases New Industry Report Highlighting the Shift Toward Direct-to-Consumer Models
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15 July 2026 · Yahoo! Finance
Xsolla Releases New Industry Report Highlighting the Shift Toward Direct-to-Consumer Models
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3 July 2026 · Outlook Respawn
Xsolla & Pley Partner to Unlock Global Web Monetization for Games
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19 May 2026 · Sandmark
Xsolla Bets on Blockchain for Gaming’s Next Phase
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18 May 2026 · Businesswire
Xsolla Launches Xsolla Club, a Global Initiative Designed to Empower the Game Development Community
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14 May 2026 · Business Wire
Xsolla and Skich Announce Strategic Partnership
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13 May 2026 · Business Wire
Xsolla Announces Xsolla Ads, a Player-Powered Growth Platform
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4 May 2026 · Business Wire
Xsolla to Lead Web3 and Game Commerce Conversation at Consensus Miami 2026
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30 March 2026 · PocketGamer
The true cost of Google's Level Up: What the fee table doesn't show
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3 March 2026 · Business Wire
Xsolla Expands Payment Coverage Across 18 Markets With Six Local Methods
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27 January 2026 · Business Wire
Xsolla Expands Payment Coverage in Taiwan With JKOPay, Taiwan’s Leading Mobile Payment Brand
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5 November 2025 · City AM
Game Developers Can Now Capture More Holiday Demand With Xsolla’s Expanded Payments Portfolio
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3 May 2017 · Upload
Former Survios Head of Studio Chris Hewish Joins Skydance Media As EVP Of Interactive
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Formative Years
Education
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University of Southern Maine
Communication (BA)
Areas Of Focus