Microsoft Patent Could Let Players Watch Ads to Earn Ad-Free Gaming Time

Microsoft is exploring a new approach to advertising in video games that could allow players to watch advertisements in exchange for additional ad-free gameplay time. A newly published patent application describes a system that would monitor a game’s state, wait for an appropriate interruption point, show promotional content, and then grant the player another period of uninterrupted access. The filing, titled “Contextually Aware Management of Interactive Software Application Access,” is listed as U.S. Patent Application US20260260258A1. It was filed by…