Microsoft Patent Would Pause Games for Ad Credits at Trigger Events, Extending Free Play
Updated
Updated · Gizmodo · Sep 23
Microsoft Patent Would Pause Games for Ad Credits at Trigger Events, Extending Free Play
3 articles · Updated · Gizmodo · Sep 23
Summary
A Sept. 3 Microsoft patent application describes a system that pauses gameplay at designated moments and grants players credit after they watch an ad.
The adtech would tie into a game engine, waiting for “trigger events” such as a finished cutscene, a reached goal or a loading screen before freezing interaction and serving promoted content.
Microsoft frames the tradeoff as a way to let users keep playing without paying immediately, effectively reviving an arcade-style continue model with ad views instead of coins.
The filing follows Xbox’s July test of ad-supported game streaming, which lets users stream owned newer games free for 1 hour after watching an ad—especially useful on older devices.