Microsoft leak reveals plans to bring adverts to PC games & CoD Mobile
ActivisionMicrosoft-owned PC games and even CoD: Mobile could be getting in-game ads according to the Microsoft leak.
A plethora of information about Microsoft‘s plans for the decade was revealed thanks to document leaks regarding their purchase of gaming industry powerhouse Activision.
As well as unveiling a full schedule release list for Xbox and Bethesda titles, we also got details on upcoming Xbox consoles, an updated Xbox controller, and more.
Microsoft want to purchase Activision to expand their services such as the Xbox Game Pass, offer exclusive titles on their platform, and ultimately “accelerate Xbox’s core growth investments,” as well as dip their feet into the rising mobile gaming industry.
On the more controversial side of things, details regarding “advertising” in PC and mobile games was also mentioned in the documents, which is causing a bit of a stir.
In a document showing Microsoft’s plan after acquiring Activision, as well as mentioning the expansion of Game Pass, and the Xbox Store, they also reference advertising for “PC and mobile games.”
The only titles mentioned in the list are Call of Duty: Mobile, Candy Crush, and Hearthstone, which are mobile games, but the text also says PC games as well.
This revelation has been met by some discomfort among the community, with comments under CharlieIntel’s post regarding the advertisement plans expressing dislike: “Xbox is ruining everything.”
That said, Phil Spencer did call these leaked documents “old“, so there’s a chance that things have changed. Further, as the list only mentions mobile games, perhaps the advertisements will stay in that realm, as it isn’t out of the norm to see ads in mobile games.
However, advertisement in a Call of Duty game, even if it is the mobile version, is certainly a big step, and as the game has such a huge community, there will no doubt be backlash if players start seeing ads in-game.
We’ll have to wait and see how far these plans will go, as Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision is yet to go through. In the meantime, check out everything we know about what will happen to Call of Duty on PlayStation after the Microsft Activision deal.