Sony is said to be looking for a way to include ads into free games on the PS5, after Microsoft was previously said to be developing a similar system for the Xbox.
It seems that the two console masters are looking for a way to make console gamers a target market for advertisers. This step is also expected to make game developers more interested in making free games, because they can make advertising as income for the game.
With such an ad system, ads can be displayed on the console interface, or it can also be in the menu in the game. Game developers can also insert advertisements anywhere in the game environment, for example on billboards displayed in games.
Ads like this are not new, but their use could be more widespread if Sony supports them at the platform level. With a system like this, gamers can get certain 'rewards' by watching ads, more or less the same as what is already in mobile games.
Game developers can sell the ad slots privately, and so far Sony hasn't specified whether they will tax the ad revenue. Unlike Microsoft, which has made sure that they will not take advantage of the ad revenue later.
But even if Sony doesn't profit from the ad, they could sell user data to advertisers. For example what players do after they see an ad.
According to a source, the data should not include the player's name or email address. Sony will also screen its advertising clients strictly, as quoted by us from Techspot, Thursday (21/4/2022).
The plan for PlayStation games that are paid for through advertising has actually appeared since Sony released the PS5 at the end of 2020. However, Microsoft will be the first to implement it on Xbox in Q3 2022, while Sony is said to only be implementing it at the end of 2022.