PlayStation Plans To Bring Ads Into Free-To-Play Games, Rumors Claim

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Rumors suggest that PlayStation is experimenting with bringing ads into free-to-play titles as a way to increase profits. While in-game advertising is a big part of the mobile gaming sphere, it has yet to become prevalent in mainstream AAA gaming. Death Stranding did include Monster energy drinks as a form of product placement, though, and PlayStation's experimental system could possibly work in a similar way.

As the gaming industry moves away from physical releases and towards purely digital distribution, free-to-play games have become increasingly common. Successful free-to-play titles, including battle royale shooters like Fortnite and Call of Duty: Warzone, typically make their money through microtransactions in an in-game item shop. Actually playing the game is entirely free, but new weapons or cosmetics can only be obtained by spending real-world cash. Free-to-play games can also be distributed through a streaming service like Xbox Game Pass, allowing the creator to earn money through subscriptions. Sony's overhauled PlayStation Plus will launch in June, giving gamers access to a massive digital library of games through a single monthly payment.

Related: New PlayStation Plus: All Subscription Tiers & Prices

As reported by Business Insider and Push Square, PlayStation apparently wants to inject ads into free-to-play games. The experimental new advertising technology can reportedly bring ads directly into a game world in the form of billboards or posters, and old ads can presumably be replaced by newer ones over time. Players could be rewarded with experience points or in-game currency for viewing these ads, which are meant to encourage the development of more free-to-play games without concerns of financial