Microsoft Files Patent for Ad-Based Gaming System
Microsoft has filed a patent for 'ad-credit,' a system that inserts ads during gaming sessions on PCs and Xbox consoles without interrupting player experience. The innovation uses moments like loading screens or end-of-level points to pause gameplay, then display ads. Afterward, players would earn a 'credit' allowing a certain span of ad-free playtime.
The duration of uninterrupted play could be determined by in-game achievements, such as finishing a level or completing several multiplayer matches. This system builds on previous tests where Xbox inserted ads into free-to-play games via its cloud service, starting with hour-long game streaming sessions for Xbox Insider Program participants this July.
Xbox has made adjustments to cloud gaming usage for Game Pass subscribers, capping Essential at five hours, Premium at ten, and Ultimate at fifteen hours each month. This change aims to address rising costs in cloud gaming due to increased user engagement over longer periods.