Microsoft Files Patent for Ad-Credit System to Show Ads During PC and Xbox Gameplay
Microsoft has filed a patent for an 'ad-credit' system that would allow ads to appear on PC and Xbox during natural breaks in gameplay without disrupting active play. The system, called 'Contextually Aware Management of Interactive Software Application Access,' detects loading screens, menus, mission ends, and round transitions to display ads.
In exchange for watching these ads, players would receive a credit towards ad-free playtime, which could range from 15 minutes to an hour or more. The patent also describes the possibility of uninterrupted playtime being gated by progression or event counts, such as completing levels or multiplayer matches.
This filing comes after earlier signs that Xbox was exploring ad-supported streaming and Microsoft's testing of ad-supported game streaming on Xbox this July. The patent shows where Microsoft may be headed in terms of monetization, particularly for free-to-play and cloud-delivered games.