Gaming Execs Divided on In-Game Advertising's Future
Industry leaders see in-game ads as a vital revenue stream to offset rising development costs. However, there's strong disagreement on how these ads should be implemented. Concerns remain about intrusive ads in full-priced titles, with some advocating for non-disruptive integrations.
Coverage across 4 outlets
The Daily Grind: Would you pay money to place an in-game ad in an MMO?
This article discusses the potential for players to pay real money for in-game advertising space within MMORPGs like Final Fantasy XIV. Commenters suggest this could be a viable monetization strategy for companies like Square Enix, offering an alternative to spamming global chats for guild or event promotion.
EA exec says in-game advertising is a "huge opportunity" for devs, especially for games like Skate
Electronic Arts vice president of advertising, Alexander Dao, believes in-game advertising presents a significant opportunity for developers, particularly for free-to-play titles like the upcoming Skate. EA is actively developing its advertising platform, integrating brands into games like Madden NFL and Skate, and Dao encourages developers to design with advertising in mind from the outset to create more native experiences.
Xbox exec clarifies that Netflix-style in-game ads that interrupt gameplay would be a bad idea, actually
Xbox's chief strategy officer, Matthew Ball, clarified that while ads may be necessary to make games more affordable, interrupting gameplay with Netflix-style advertisements is not the intended approach. Ball stated that his comments were misinterpreted and that his personal belief is against ads that interfere with the player experience, advocating instead for ad-supported tiers similar to streaming services.
New Xbox Exec Advocates For Something Everyone Hates To Help Save Gaming
Xbox Chief Strategy Officer Matthew Ball suggests that in-game advertising could be a solution to rising development costs and consumer reluctance to pay more for games. He points to the success of ad-supported tiers in streaming services as a model. Ball acknowledges past negative reactions to in-game ads but argues that companies need to explore such revenue streams to keep products affordable and fund development.
Xbox's new chief strategy officer is still a big believer in in-game ads
Matthew Ball, the new chief strategy officer for Xbox, believes in-game advertising will become more prevalent in PC and console games as a vital revenue stream. He argues that rising development and hardware costs necessitate new monetization strategies to keep games affordable for consumers and ensure industry growth, drawing parallels to the success of ad-supported tiers in streaming services.
In-Game Ads For Full-Price Games "Would Seem Unfair," GTA 6 Parent Company Boss Says
Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Grand Theft Auto 6 parent company Take-Two Interactive, stated that in-game advertisements in full-priced games would be unfair to consumers. While acknowledging their presence in free-to-play titles and sports simulations like NBA 2K, he believes it's inappropriate for games costing $70 or $80. This discussion follows industry analysis suggesting ads could help maintain current game prices.
