Whether the numbers make sense, in this case, is debatable, but it appears that Microsoft is considering offering an Xbox Game Pass tier financed by advertisements in some way. A new patent application by the business describes technology that predicts when in-game engagement has dropped, potentially due to a loading screen, for instance. Then, based on the user’s privacy settings and interests, Xbox would present an advertisement. Online advertising has long been a big part of Microsoft’s Bing business, and now that Netflix and other subscription services have implemented ad-supported tiers, it makes sense for Microsoft to follow suit. Although a poll cannot guarantee anything, it does indicate that Microsoft is searching for methods to increase the number of Game Pass subscribers, which Xbox CEO Phil Spencer acknowledged has slowed down on the platform despite significant PC traction.
“We’re seeing incredibly growth on PC… on console I’ve seen growth slow down, mainly because at some point you’ve reached everybody on console that wants to subscribe.” 2/2 — Tom Warren (@tomwarren) October 26, 2022 In any case, Microsoft is looking into methods to further lower the accessibility hurdles for its subscription services. With the Xbox Game Pass receiving practically all the marketing attention, Xbox Live Gold seems like a thing of the past. It is unquestionably a crucial part of the console business model, though. Regardless of how Microsoft handles its subscription service, it is difficult to overlook the significant influence Xbox Game Pass has had on the gaming sector.
