From Newsgroup: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action


Microsoft has been floundering recently. Sure, it's still an immensely profitable company and maintains its dominance in the PC
marketplace... but a lot of its initiatives haven't done anywhere
nearly as well as hoped. Windows 11 is considered an unwelcome
necessity. Co-Pilot is unwanted. XBox is barely hanging on. And even
GamePass isn't really doing as well as it should be. What's a poor
corporation to do?

Obviously the solution is to add more advertising to the mix!* Because
that's always been so welcomed by gamers!

But that's the point, says researcher Joost van Dreunen. Gamers have
been stupidly resistant to having adverts put into their gaming
experience, and Microsoft and other corporations need to start
ignoring them more! More adverts are the way to go! Rather than give
gamers what they want, instead give them an ad-heavy subscription
model and roll in the cash. Oh sure, Microsoft will make it so it'll
just be the cheapest 'ultra-low' game pass tier that gets the adverts
at first... but you know that won't last. Enshittification is the
standard business model of the day. Soon struggling GamePass will be
pulling in trillions. It's fool-proof... isn't it?

Yeah, maybe not. Microsoft is struggling to get people to buy into
GamePass already. Making it an advert-laden platform isn't going to
help them. If anything, it'll drive more people away than the low-tier
gamepass model would bring in.

Honestly, I sort of hope Microsoft does this. Then Sony can come in
and say "No Ads" as their counterpoint announcement. Not that Sony is
much better, but at least we'd get some LOLs.




* story here https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gaming-needs-more-ads-expert-says-and-a-6-game-pass-tier/1100-6539438/

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From Newsgroup: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action

On 4/17/2026 9:06 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:

Microsoft has been floundering recently. Sure, it's still an immensely profitable company and maintains its dominance in the PC
marketplace... but a lot of its initiatives haven't done anywhere
nearly as well as hoped. Windows 11 is considered an unwelcome
necessity. Co-Pilot is unwanted. XBox is barely hanging on. And even
GamePass isn't really doing as well as it should be. What's a poor corporation to do?

Obviously the solution is to add more advertising to the mix!* Because
that's always been so welcomed by gamers!

But that's the point, says researcher Joost van Dreunen. Gamers have
been stupidly resistant to having adverts put into their gaming
experience, and Microsoft and other corporations need to start
ignoring them more! More adverts are the way to go! Rather than give
gamers what they want, instead give them an ad-heavy subscription
model and roll in the cash. Oh sure, Microsoft will make it so it'll
just be the cheapest 'ultra-low' game pass tier that gets the adverts
at first... but you know that won't last. Enshittification is the
standard business model of the day. Soon struggling GamePass will be
pulling in trillions. It's fool-proof... isn't it?

Mobile gamers are used to free games with ads.

Hey maybe they could get into the mobile market /s
--
-Justisaur

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