PlayStation Also Wants Mobile-Style Adverts In Its Games

It seems like PlayStation wants to potentially put ads in its games, similar to the recent report that Xbox wants to do so.

Last week, a report from Business Insider emerged claiming that Xbox wants to place ads in its free-to-play games. Now, again according to Business Insider (paywalled), PlayStation also seems to be planning to sell ads in its games.

This report is based on information provided by three people involved in the plans. They claim that Sony is testing with adtech partners to help game developers make in-game ads. The general concept is that placing in-game ads in free-to-play games allows devs to keep building them, as it provides them a new way to monetise.

Credit: Sony

According to the sources, the current ad inventory only consists of in-menu ads such as game publishers promoting their own titles in the console’s store. As well as serving ads on streaming video to people that stream apps like Hulu on their consoles.

Much like Xbox, PlayStation are expecting to launch this effort by the end of 2022. And it would have ads within the games themselves. Again like Xbox, the plan is for ads to appear like they’re just a part of the game, such as digital billboards in sports stadiums. An example was provided saying that players watching these ads could give them rewards like avatar skins. It should be noted that Sony hasn’t decided if it will take a cut of the revenue as of yet. One source said the company might charge developers and publishers for data on consumer activity.

It’s unlikely that players will respond to ads particularly well in free-to-play games. Certain mobile games do have features where watching ads can provide rewards. But it’s also an incredibly different demographic. So we’ll have to see how it takes shape.

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Featured Image Credit: Sony / BBC