Home
Technology
Gaming
Entertainment
World & Business
Science
Sports
AI

World & Business

Home
Technology
Gaming
Entertainment
World & Business
Science
Sports
AI

Microsoft reportedly patents a system to show ads at natural gameplay breaks · Digg

Microsoft reportedly patents a system to show ads at natural gameplay breaks

A post citing Patentlyze says the patent also considers rewarding players who watch an ad with a period of gameplay without new interruptions.

TLDR

A post citing Patentlyze says Microsoft registered an in-game advertising system on September 3, 2026, designed to detect natural breaks such as finishing a level before showing an ad. The patent reportedly considers rewarding ad viewing with a period of gameplay without new interruptions. According to the post, the technology could use game data, signals from game APIs or machine learning to decide when to show ads.

Combined views

12.1M

13 Sources, first seen 26d ago

Combined views

12.1M

13 Sources, first seen 26d ago

33.1K likes

26d ago

first seen 26d ago

33.1K likes

3.5K comments

7.3K saves

2.7K reposts

3.5K comments

7.3K saves

2.7K reposts

Sentiment

Positive0%100%Negative

Summary

Replies objected to Microsoft's patent for machine learning-timed in-game ads during loading screens and pauses, calling it a further degradation of games and an unwelcome interruption.

Based on 26 sentiment-bearing replies from 23 accounts across 4 conversations.

Sentiment

Positive0%100%Negative

Summary

Replies objected to Microsoft's patent for machine learning-timed in-game ads during loading screens and pauses, calling it a further degradation of games and an unwelcome interruption.

Based on 26 sentiment-bearing replies from 23 accounts across 4 conversations.

Today's Rank

—

Not ranked yet

Today's Rank

—

Not ranked yet

13 Sources

@IdleSloth84_XBOX has patented a new 'in-game advertising' system On September 3, Microsoft has registered a system capable of detecting natural breaks in a game session, e.g. finishing a level, then showing you an ad. The patent also considers rewards for “watch an ad, get a reward”, a period of gameplay without new interruptions, which is already common in mobile games. The technology could use data from the game itself, signals from its APIs, or even machine learning to determine when to show the ad. Microsoft is already testing ad-supported cloud gaming, so this could be another piece of its bigger advertising plans. Matthew Ball (CSO) already hinted at exploring new ways to monetize the Xbox ecosystem. via: Patentlyze https://patentlyze.com/patent/microsoft-context-aware-game-ad-timing-explained/26d

@rockpapershotMicrosoft file patent for a machine learning system that would "train" itself on your playtime to work out when you'll be least annoyed by in-game ads https://bit.ly/4hgcyQr23d

@PolygonXbox Patents New Way to Inject Ads Into Gaming https://www.polygon.com/microsoft-patent-in-game-ads-load-screens-pauses/?taid=6ab16bf5b2348200012c5344&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter23d

@InsiderGamingIGMicrosoft Ad Patent Injects Commercials Into Loading Screens https://insider-gaming.com/microsoft-ad-patent-injects-commercials-into-loading-screens/22d

@eurogamerMicrosoft has filed a patent for a system that allows PC and Xbox games to serve advertisements during game sessions, seemingly without disrupting gameplay. https://bit.ly/3Tlw3iH22d

@DexertoMicrosoft has filed a patent for ads that could interrupt games after boss fights, cutscenes, quests and multiplayer rounds Players would receive credits granting temporary game access, while watching an ad would award another credit to let them resume22d

@GameRantMicrosoft's gaming division shows concrete signs of experimenting with dynamic gaming ads, inserted after things like cutscenes and boss fights. https://gamerant.com/xbox-ads-boss-fights-cutscenes-patent/?taid=6ab3cd71a627190001d5d859&utm_campaign=TrueAnthem-GR&utm_medium=Social-Distribution&utm_source=Twitter21d

@purexboxMicrosoft Files Patent Which Could Bring Game-Pausing Ads To Xbox https://www.purexbox.com/news/2026/09/microsoft-files-patent-which-could-bring-game-pausing-ads-to-xbox21d

@GameSpotMicrosoft filed a patent for a system that could show ads in PC and console games during "breaks" the game self-identifies, such as after a boss fight, cutscene, or completing a quest. Watching the ad would grant the player "credit" which would grant another block of uninterrupted playtime.21d

@GIBizMicrosoft has patented an "ad-credit" system to display adverts and announcements during PC and Xbox game sessions without disrupting gameplay https://www.gamesindustry.biz/microsoft-files-patent-for-ad-credit-system-to-show-ads-on-pc-and-xbox-without-disrupting-gameplay20d

13 Sources

@IdleSloth84_XBOX has patented a new 'in-game advertising' system On September 3, Microsoft has registered a system capable of detecting natural breaks in a game session, e.g. finishing a level, then showing you an ad. The patent also considers rewards for “watch an ad, get a reward”, a period of gameplay without new interruptions, which is already common in mobile games. The technology could use data from the game itself, signals from its APIs, or even machine learning to determine when to show the ad. Microsoft is already testing ad-supported cloud gaming, so this could be another piece of its bigger advertising plans. Matthew Ball (CSO) already hinted at exploring new ways to monetize the Xbox ecosystem. via: Patentlyze https://patentlyze.com/patent/microsoft-context-aware-game-ad-timing-explained/26d

@rockpapershotMicrosoft file patent for a machine learning system that would "train" itself on your playtime to work out when you'll be least annoyed by in-game ads https://bit.ly/4hgcyQr23d

@PolygonXbox Patents New Way to Inject Ads Into Gaming https://www.polygon.com/microsoft-patent-in-game-ads-load-screens-pauses/?taid=6ab16bf5b2348200012c5344&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter23d

@InsiderGamingIGMicrosoft Ad Patent Injects Commercials Into Loading Screens https://insider-gaming.com/microsoft-ad-patent-injects-commercials-into-loading-screens/22d

@eurogamerMicrosoft has filed a patent for a system that allows PC and Xbox games to serve advertisements during game sessions, seemingly without disrupting gameplay. https://bit.ly/3Tlw3iH22d

@DexertoMicrosoft has filed a patent for ads that could interrupt games after boss fights, cutscenes, quests and multiplayer rounds Players would receive credits granting temporary game access, while watching an ad would award another credit to let them resume22d

@GameRantMicrosoft's gaming division shows concrete signs of experimenting with dynamic gaming ads, inserted after things like cutscenes and boss fights. https://gamerant.com/xbox-ads-boss-fights-cutscenes-patent/?taid=6ab3cd71a627190001d5d859&utm_campaign=TrueAnthem-GR&utm_medium=Social-Distribution&utm_source=Twitter21d

@purexboxMicrosoft Files Patent Which Could Bring Game-Pausing Ads To Xbox https://www.purexbox.com/news/2026/09/microsoft-files-patent-which-could-bring-game-pausing-ads-to-xbox21d

@GameSpotMicrosoft filed a patent for a system that could show ads in PC and console games during "breaks" the game self-identifies, such as after a boss fight, cutscene, or completing a quest. Watching the ad would grant the player "credit" which would grant another block of uninterrupted playtime.21d

@GIBizMicrosoft has patented an "ad-credit" system to display adverts and announcements during PC and Xbox game sessions without disrupting gameplay https://www.gamesindustry.biz/microsoft-files-patent-for-ad-credit-system-to-show-ads-on-pc-and-xbox-without-disrupting-gameplay20d