Sony is looking at placing ads in its games, Netflix also following suit

As if ads on TV weren't bad enough, it looks like Sony could be following Microsoft in including advertisements in games. One of the few reasons people have been cable cutting over the past few years is that ads are annoying and intrusive. There is a place and time for ads but companies seem to think it’s all the time. In a report on Business Insider, Sony is now looking at adding ads in its free-to-play games. The company has reportedly encouraged its developers to look beyond the much-hated microtransactions and other cash grabbing features. What this could mean for the regular gamer is that you’ll see in-game ads on billboards on sports games, in open-world games etc. In fact, Sony is looking at even rewarding gamers who have the zen-like ability to sit through droning ads.

Sony PlayStation UI

Advertisments in games? Sony and Microsoft exploring options

The report further states that the feature should launch by the end of the year, so saddle up boys. Sony says that it has a strict vetting process, but considering the company has been subject to hacks and leaks, that’s not a very confidence-inspiring statement. Concerns regarding data miming and tracking have been brought to the forefront but at the end of the day, the almighty dollar always wins and as consumers, we bear the brunt of these decisions. To add insult to injury, it looks like Netflix could be throwing its hat in the ad game. According to a report in the New York Times, streaming platforms like Netflix and Disney+ are actively looking at adding ads to their content. Netflix has also posted a loss of 200,000 subscribers and a crash in stock prices. The streaming giant has also talked about cracking down on password sharing.

In what can only be described as a Back to the Future situation, we’re basically moving backwards to a mix of free, ad-driven services and a small list of expensive ad-free services. And, although the video game industry isn't as developed as TV, it too, is going through its own growing pains. These decisions have been met with universal criticism but at the end of the day, it looks like ad-driven content is here to stay.

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