Advertising
Ongoing coverage on Advertising.
Latest coverage
Subscriptions, Clouds, and Streams
An expert suggests the gaming industry needs more advertising and proposes a cheaper $6 tier for Xbox Game Pass. The discussion touches upon the evolving landscape of game subscriptions, cloud gaming, and streaming services.
Gaming Needs More Ads, Expert Says, And A $6 Game Pass Tier
Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma is reportedly exploring ways to make Xbox Game Pass more affordable, potentially through a lower-priced, ad-supported tier. Industry expert Joost van Dreunen suggests embracing advertising, citing its prevalence in other media, and notes that subscriptions excel at retention but not market growth. Former PlayStation executive Shawn Layden expressed skepticism about Game Pass's current trajectory, while Netflix CEO Greg Peters indicated openness to potential bundle collaborations with Xbox.
The home of gaming news!
This article serves as an introduction to Gfinityesports, a gaming news platform. It outlines the site's request for user consent regarding the processing of personal data for personalized advertising, content measurement, audience research, and service development, utilizing device information like cookies and unique identifiers.
The home of gaming news!
Gfinityesports is a gaming news website that requests user consent for personal data processing, including personalized advertising and content. The site utilizes cookies and device data, sharing information with partners for various purposes, and allows users to manage their privacy settings.
Support Shacknews with the new Shackpass subscription
Shacknews has launched a new subscription service called Shackpass, offering users an ad-free experience on Shacknews.com and FileShack for $50 per year or $5 per month. Subscribers will also receive downloadable ePub versions of the site's Long Reads.
Morning Metaverse
Amazon has signed an $11.57 billion deal with Globalstar to utilize its satellite network, positioning itself as a competitor to SpaceX's Starlink. Separately, YouTube announced it will reduce the number of ads shown during livestreams.
Something for the Weekend – 11/04/26
This article outlines the website's privacy policy regarding user data, advertising, and personalized content. It explains that certain companies may access device information to serve relevant ads, with processing based on consent or legitimate interest under GDPR.
Morning Metaverse
Greece plans to ban social media access for individuals under 15 starting next year. Meanwhile, YouTube has begun implementing 90-second unskippable advertisements for TV viewers. The latest version of Tor Browser, 15.0.9, has also been released.
Apple iOS 26.5 public beta is now available
Apple has released the first public beta for iOS 26.5, introducing features like "Suggested Places" in Apple Maps and the expansion of ads within the Maps app. The company also confirmed that ads will be clearly marked and will not compromise user privacy. Additionally, end-to-end encryption for RCS messages is being tested in this beta.
Discord’s Last Meadow Online April Fools game has users thinking its there to test future ad placements
Discord launched a browser-based MMO game called Last Meadow Online within its client as an April Fools' Day event. While the game offers a Discord badge for defeating a dragon, some users speculate it's a test for future ad placements, especially given Discord's reported plans for an IPO and the need for consistent revenue streams.
Unity sees growth in engine revenue, shuts down IronSource ad network in favour of Vector AI user-acquisition platform
Unity is shutting down its IronSource ad network and plans to divest its publishing arm to focus on its AI-powered Vector platform. This strategic shift aims to simplify the business and capitalize on growth in AI-driven user acquisition. The company also reported growth in its engine revenue despite increased competition from Unreal Engine and Godot.
Business and Finance
Unity announced preliminary first quarter financial results that exceeded its guidance. The company plans to enhance growth and profitability by exiting its non-strategic advertising business.
Judge tosses out X's advertiser boycott lawsuit
A US District Court Judge has dismissed X Corp.'s lawsuit against advertisers who allegedly participated in an illegal boycott. The judge ruled that the advertisers' actions, motivated by concerns over X's content moderation policies, did not constitute an antitrust violation. X Corp. is unable to refile the lawsuit.
Roblox claims its planned brand integration creator fee is totally not about revenue
Roblox is planning to introduce a new fee for creators who implement brand integrations within their games, with the cost scaling based on user traffic and engagement. Vice President Stephanie Latham stated the change aims to expand ad formats and user access to brands, not to generate revenue. This policy shift, expected next year, may face legal challenges and could impact smaller creators.
Apple confirms ads are coming to Apple Maps
Apple has confirmed that advertisements will be integrated into Apple Maps through its new Apple Business platform. Businesses will be able to create ads that appear at the top of search results and in a new 'Suggested Places' section, starting this summer in the US and Canada. These ads will be clearly marked and designed to maintain user privacy, with data not being shared with third parties or collected by Apple.
Roblox insists plans to start charging creators for brand integrations "is not about revenue at all"
Roblox plans to introduce a fee for creators who implement brand integrations in their experiences, starting in 2027. The company states this change is not revenue-driven but aims to evolve its responsibility to users, creators, and brands by standardizing ad measurement and compliance. This policy shift is part of broader changes to expand creator access to ad formats and tools for working with brands.
Apple will reportedly start stuffing ads into the Maps app
Apple is reportedly planning to introduce advertisements into its Maps app on iPhones this summer, with an announcement potentially coming this month. This move, similar to implementations by Google Maps and Yelp, aims to boost Apple's services business revenue. The company already features ads on its App Store and News app.
Take-Two boss Zelnick says it would be "unfair" to put ads in premium games
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick stated that implementing advertisements in premium games, for which players pay $70 or $80, would be unfair. He noted that while limited advertising is acceptable in titles like NBA 2K due to its in-game context, it is not suitable for full-priced releases. Zelnick also discussed the company's strategy to expand its revenue beyond the US and Western Europe by localizing content and investing in emerging markets.
GTA Wiki goes indie as it slams 'terrible' Fandom ad plague: 'Intrusive, unavoidable for most viewers,…
The GTA Wiki has become independent from Fandom due to the platform's aggressive advertising and perceived mismanagement. Editors cited Fandom's intrusive ads and a new CEO as primary reasons for the migration to a community-driven network called Weird Gloop.
GTA Wiki editors cite "a reportedly pro-AI CEO," "terrible" ads, and restrictive censorship as they…
The GTA Wiki has migrated away from Fandom hosting due to editor protests against aggressive advertising, restrictive censorship, and the company's reportedly pro-AI CEO. This move follows a trend of other video game community wikis leaving Fandom over similar policy concerns.
