Microsoft Patent Hints At Contextual In-Game Ads

As Microsoft restructures its gaming
business alongside new Xbox CEO Asha
Sharma, the tech giant has filed a patent application for an “ad credit” system designed to contextually deliver ads to players during a game’s natural stopping
points. 

First spotted by independent gaming publication Respawn First,
Microsoft’s patent application was filed on Sept. 3 and describes a
“contextually aware” content management system capable of “determining a promoted content window” to deliver ads to PC and console gamers. 

According to the application, players would begin a game with a specific amount of ad-free playtime and the ad delivery
system would launch a short “promoted content” window. 

Natural pause events — for example, when
a player “is determined to be in a safe location, such as the user’s team base” — will spur a loading screen during which the ad system will serve a branded promotion and reward the
player with more…