Microsoft Could Make Gamers Watch Ads to Keep Playing

Microsoft has patented a system that could pause games on PCs and Xbox, show players advertisements and then reward them with credits to continue playing.

The patent also raises an uncomfortable possibility for gamers. Microsoft could introduce a system where access to a game is limited after a certain amount of playtime, with players required to watch an ad to earn more time. A countdown could even be added to major games, turning additional gameplay into something we would have to unlock through ads or credits.

The US patent application US 2026/0260258 A1 describes a system that can detect specific moments in an interactive application, suspend the player’s interaction and display audiovisual promoted ads before allowing gameplay to resume.

The interesting part is the credit system.

Players could initially receive a certain amount of access to a game. Once that access runs out, the system could wait for a suitable point in the game before displaying an advertisement.

The patent describes possible trigger points based on the content or state of the game. These include the end of a boss fight, completion of a quest, a cutscene, a loading period or another natural break in gameplay.

After watching the advertisement, the player could receive another credit that provides additional uninterrupted access.

The credit could be based on time, such as 15 minutes, 30 minutes or an hour, or could instead be tied to gameplay progress. This means a player could potentially watch an ad and receive enough credit to continue playing rather than paying directly for the additional access.

The system could also work with streamed games, opening the possibility of the technology being used beyond locally installed PC or console games.

For gamers, however, there is an important catch: this is only a patent application, not an announced Xbox feature. Microsoft has not said that it will introduce this system into Xbox games, Game Pass or Windows gaming. Companies regularly patent technologies that never become commercial products.

PlayStation?

PlayStation players are not affected by this Microsoft patent, and there is no indication that Sony is introducing this particular ad-credit system on PlayStation. However, Sony has separately filed patents involving advertising and other content during game loading or waiting periods, so the idea of console-based advertising is not exclusive to Microsoft.

For now, Microsoft’s filing is best viewed as a detailed blueprint for a possible future where watching an ad could become another way to earn game time.