Microsoft is Also Considering a Move With its Free to Play Games
The global gaming industry is worth over $300 Billion, and with the cost of developing games on the rise, title holders are becoming more crafty with how they generate revenue. One method was to increase the price of games. That was met with mixed reactions. The other method involved loot boxes and other forms of micro-transactions, which was not met well with gamers, and politicians alike. The most recent method has seen some companies include in-game advertisements into their products. Sony is now one of those companies reportedly considering if this is a viable method to help put money back into the developers pockets.
The move is designed to incentivise developers to make more free to play games and have more ways to monetize them.
Reportedly Sony has not yet decided if they would rather take a cut of the ad revenue or just the data that it aggregates on the players.
A software is alleged in testing that will make ads appear naturally in game, such as in the background on in game billboards, or on the sides of stadiums in popular sports games. The other side of the software could reward players for watching in-game ads, like how some mobile games do.
Sony is not alone in this practice, as it was reported that Microsoft is seeking to add ads into it free to play games, however they will not be taking a cut of the profit the ads generate.
EA has had a few instances where they snuck ads into their MMA game, but currently they are denying reports to add ads into their current lineup of games.
Advertisements in games can help bring money back into developers pockets, but they can also be misused, we will be curious to see how this all plays out for the major companies going foward.
