Microsoft has registered a new mechanism called "ad credits," intended for PCs and consoles, which will allow advertisements to be displayed without causing interruptions during a gaming session. The company's strategy aims to establish a new monetization method for free titles by integrating commercial breaks during moments of inactivity within the game.
According to the details of the registration at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the operation of this technology is more sophisticated than a mere timer. Instead of forcing an ad to play at fixed intervals, such as every ten minutes, the system seeks the ideal and least intrusive moment to present sponsored material. As compensation, players are rewarded with an extended period of ad-free time after watching the content.
This system uses machine learning features to ensure that advertising is shown only at the appropriate instant. If the player is engaged in a fierce battle against a boss or participating in a competitive match, the ad will be disregarded until a subsequent pause occurs or during natural transitions, such as the end of a predetermined cutscene, a mission completion screen, the end of a level, or on usual loading screens.
After the sponsored content is finished, the time credit is reset, providing a new uninterrupted period of gameplay. This new patent indicates the large technology corporation's future plans to increase the profitability of its gaming division, which is in line with other recent company actions aimed at containing operational costs. For example, Xbox Game Pass began imposing restrictions on cloud gaming usage, limiting access to Xbox Cloud Gaming to a maximum of 15 hours per month, even for those who have the Ultimate plan.