Xbox may add advertisements to free-to-play games to support F2P developers

gamesradar.com:

Microsoft is reportedly assessing plans to add advertising spots to its free-to-play games.

As reported by Business Insider ($)  (thanks, VGC), the megacorp - seemingly aware of the possible backlash from fans - is reportedly "moving cautiously" with its plans, but is considering creating "a 'private marketplace', where only select brands can insert ads into games in a way that doesn’t disrupt the gameplay experience".

BI acknowledges that it was "unable to learn if Xbox will also offer other types of in-game ad units, like avatar skins or video ads that play in gaming lobbies" and was "also unable to determine if Microsoft has pitched the Xbox offer to advertisers yet", so it doesn't look like we'll see ads in our games any time soon.

Interestingly, one of the sources that discussed the plans with BI pointed out that Microsoft "isn't currently interested" in boosting its own revenue by taking a slice, but instead wants to support partners that make free-to-play games. 

"One of the sources speculated Microsoft isn’t currently interested in collecting a cut of ad revenue because it wants to provide more money-making opportunities to developers who make free-to-play games," Business Insider said.

Microsoft recently revealed that ID@Xbox has helped its indie partners generate $2.5 billion in royalties since the program launched nine years ago.

Microsoft says the results "have exceeded our wildest dreams", with independent developers securing more than $2.5 billion in royalties, and the total revenue generated by ID@Xbox partners on Xbox almost doubling over the last three years. "These are staggering numbers, and it speaks to the power of independent developers," Xbox said at the time. 

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