About Fanatical
Fanatical (formerly known as Bundle Stars) is a UK-based digital retailer established in 2012 that specializes in selling officially licensed game keys for PC, Mac, and Linux. Rebranded in 2017 and acquired by Fandom, Inc. in 2021, the brand is renowned for its “Bundle” system—offering collections of games, eBooks, or eLearning courses at significantly discounted prices.
Unlike grey-market sites, Fanatical sources its keys directly from publishers (partnerships with Bethesda, SEGA, Ubisoft, etc.), ensuring all products are 100% legitimate and safe. They have sold over 100 million keys to customers globally.
Fanatical Affiliate Program Overview
Fanatical separates its affiliate program into two distinct channels: one for Websites/Blogs (via CJ Affiliate) and one for Influencers/Streamers (via Tapfiliate/internal).
| Feature | Details |
| Industry | Digital Gaming / E-commerce / Software |
| Product Type | Digital Game Keys (Steam), Game Bundles, eBooks, eLearning Courses |
| Affiliate Program Type | CPS (Cost Per Sale) |
Fanatical Affiliate Program Offers
The program is designed to be globally accessible, catering to content creators who can drive traffic to flash sales and exclusive bundles.
| Feature | Details |
| Promotional Materials | Banners, Text Links, Product Data Feeds, API access (for CJ), Game Artwork |
| Affiliate Cookie Duration | 30 Days (Standard for CJ) / Varies for influencers (up to 30 days) |
| Accepted Traffic Sources | Websites, Blogs, Social Media (Twitter, Facebook), YouTube, Twitch, Discord, Mixer |
| Accepted Countries | Global (Fanatical sells worldwide with support for multiple currencies like USD, GBP, EUR, CAD, AUD) |
| Explicit Content | Prohibited (Sites containing violence, discrimination, or illegal content are not accepted) |
| Religious/Political Content | Restricted (Content must be brand-safe; typically discouraged if controversial) |
Fanatical Affiliate Commissions & Payments
Fanatical offers a straightforward commission model. While it is not a multi-tier MLM structure, the potential for earnings is high due to high conversion rates on their aggressive discounts.
| Feature | Details |
| MLM | No (Single-tier affiliate program) |
| Commission Rate | Up to 5% per sale (Rates can vary by product category or partner status) |
| Commission Structure | Flat percentage on the sale value of digital products |
| Payout Frequency | Monthly (Net 30 or Net 60 depending on the network terms) |
| Payout Methods | PayPal (for Influencers/Tapfiliate), Direct Deposit / Check / Payoneer (for CJ Affiliate partners) |
| Minimum Payout | $50 (Standard threshold) |
Suitable Affiliates for Fanatical Affiliate
This program is ideal for creators with audiences interested in gaming, tech, and digital bargains.
- Bloggers: Tech news, game reviews, and “deal hunting” blogs.
- TikTokers: Short-form content highlighting “Game of the Week” or flash bundles.
- KOC (Key Opinion Consumers): Everyday gamers reviewing bundles they actually bought.
- KOL (Key Opinion Leaders): Respected gaming journalists or community leaders.
- Influencers: General tech or geek culture personalities.
- YouTubers: Let’s Play creators, game reviewers, and PC build channels.
- Video Editors: Creating montages or trailers for bundled games.
- Livestreamers: Twitch/YouTube streamers playing games featured in current bundles (using overlay links).
Fanatical Affiliate Software
Fanatical utilizes a Hybrid Approach depending on the partner type:
- CJ Affiliate (Commission Junction): This is used for Websites, Blogs, and Large Publishers. It provides robust tracking, deep linking, and data feeds.
- Tapfiliate (In-House managed): This is used for the Fanatical Assistant / Influencer Program (YouTubers, Streamers). It is more user-friendly for individual creators and integrates easily with social channels.
3 Alternatives for Fanatical Affiliate Program
Here is a comparison with three major competitors: Green Man Gaming (GMG), Humble Bundle, and G2A (Goldmine).
| Comparison Factor | Fanatical | Green Man Gaming | Humble Bundle | G2A (Goldmine) |
| Average Bill (AOV) | ~$10 – $15 | ~$15 – $20 | ~$15 – $25 | ~$5 – $15 |
| Entry Fees | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Withdrawal Threshold | $50 | $50 | $250 (High) | Low / Flexible |
| Payment Frequency | Monthly | Monthly | Monthly (Net 30) | On Request / Fast |
| Commission | Up to 5% | 5% | ~8% (varies by bundle) | ~5% (Tiered) |
| Cookie Duration | 30 Days | 30 Days | 30 Days | 24 Hours (Very Short) |
| Conversion Rate | High (~10%) | Medium-High | High (Charity angle) | Medium |
| Marketing Materials | Banners, Feeds | Banners, API | Banners, Logos | Reflinks, Widgets |
