Normally, I think gamers overreact a bit when it comes to ads on Xbox… but this time, this full screen ad when you boot up the system should not be allowed.
Wonder what genius exec had that brilliant idea. Stupid.
You say “stupid”, but I’m kind of worried it’ll have a positive impact in their sales, making these types of ads the new standard… I hope not, but my expectations are getting worse and worse
That this exists at all means it is a new standard ad format they are testing out. They didn’t program in a new ad format just for Activision.
So unless there’s enough of a pushback that they can it, you’ll be periodically seeing similar boot up ads for other games and maybe even things like McDonald’s down the road.
Classic Microsoft.
I thought there’s no way… when you boot up!? Sure enough. “the ad in question pops up when players boot up their Xbox”
Wow
It was almost certainly multiple execs, from multiple companies, with Activision being the first partner for a new ad format team Xbox was rolling out but had discussed in advance with multiple agency partners.
Personally, I’d like to thank Microsoft. They’ve been making it easy to not regret getting a PS5 and not really even considering the xbox option that strongly. Between the series S needing to handle it for it to be allowed on the series X and now full screen ads, it’s like Sony is the only one that realizes there’s still competition going on.
I’d also like to thank people who still buy Xboxes anyways for giving Sony a reason to not turn the enshitification up to an 11 because it’s probably more of a difference in confidence than principles.
They also recently announced that all unlicesenced third party accessories will cease to work with the Xbox as of a couple days ago.
Wtf?
Yeah, plenty of things that have made me glad to not have one. Has there been anything positive about Xbox in the news lately? That isn’t kinda a backhand compliment, like BG3 being available on it soon while it launched everywhere else a while ago now?
Entertainment industry as a whole is about to relearn some painful lessons about customer satisfaction. Every day there’s a new reason to hoist the black flag on predatory capitalism.
That must be the positive change to the industry the takeover was promised to bring.
This kind of thing is the reason I’ve started moving completely away from Microsoft platforms, including Windows. Microsoft is getting more and more invasive and aggressive pushing advertising onto people in their own private spaces, and that is unacceptable.
Since I’m a PC gamer first and foremost, I don’t use XBox… and after this, I won’t. Ever. This was just MS dipping their toes in to see if they could get away with it.
Thankfully, with Valve continuing to rapidly improve Proton, just about any Windows game runs on Linux now with very little elbow grease. No Microsoft necessary.
with Valve continuing to rapidly improve Proton, just about any Windows game runs on Linux now
I hope this is actually true, or becomes true. The only reason I’m on Windows is for gaming.
Heck even my Bitwig DAW runs on Linux.
it’s to the point that even pirated games generally Just Work if you run them via steam, it’s magic
We need legislation to protect from ad placement. It should not be the case that advertisers can get to you on your premium devices in places they could not to begin with.
Manufacturers should have to outline in their launch and marketing material where ads are going to be posted and after that they cannot expand it.
I remember the PS4 having a load of bullshit apps waiting to be downloaded too, I bought the most expensive version you sell, how am I to escape ads if not through that.
I’ve had a Day 1 edition Xbox One that I’ve used nearly every day since release. Admittedly, not great for games, but it’s been an absolute powerhouse of a media center for me. Twitch, youtube, plex, any streaming service, and a blu ray. If for some reason I can’t stream something to it, I can plug in my chromecast or laptop, and with passthrough, it’s literally all I’ve needed in my living room for the past 10 years.
For the first time yesterday I very honestly considered boxing it up and getting rid of it after booting it up and getting this forced full screen ad before getting to my homepage. Fuck this shit.
