FTC vs Microsoft Leaked Case Documents Reveal the Latter Wanted to Expand Advertising in Mobile Gaming Through Activision Blizzard Titles

Published 09/20/2023, 12:32 AM EDT

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Many important documents from the FTC vs. Microsoft case have been leaked giving people an insider view of the company’s operations. The documents revealed that Microsoft is set to acquire Activision for $68.7 billion.  With the new acquisition, Microsoft’s plans for the future of Xbox are revealed.

The acquisition of Activision Blizzard King has added renowned mobile titles to Microsoft’s portfolio. Case documents from the FTC vs. Microsoft trial have revealed the company’s plans to monetize the mobile games. While the gaming division of Microsoft mostly made its revenue through selling games and Xbox Game Passes, the documents have revealed the company’s latest plans to monetize the games.

Microsoft’s new direction to monetize from the acquisition

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In the recent leak from the FTC vs. Microsoft case, the documents have revealed Microsoft’s plan to expand advertising in mobile games. Fans think the new plan will prioritize ramping up advertisements in games from Activision, Blizzard, and King. Microsoft intends to leverage Activision’s advertising platform and expertise after the merger. Their new strategy is to incorporate advertisements into PC and mobile games, thereby expanding their revenue streams.

Microsoft’s strategy centers on integrating ads into free-to-play games, with specific titles like Call of Duty Mobile, Candy Crush, and Hearthstone. Notably, certain King’s games are playable on both PC browsers and mobile devices, broadening the platforms available for monetization post-acquisition. This move aligns with Microsoft’s overarching vision of investing in mobile gaming within the Xbox ecosystem, extending beyond Activision titles, in response to the industry’s increasing emphasis on mobile gaming.

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Will Microsoft push ads on Xbox Games Pass?

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With speculations of Microsoft’s current trajectory, it is possible for the company to release low-cost, ad-supported tiers within Xbox Game Pass. The integration of MSAN and King’s ad tech could pave the way for this change. Although the gaming industry has yet to adopt this concept, movie streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu offer similar subscriptions.

If implemented, this could change how the current subscription tiers work on the Xbox Game Pass. The document also shows plans for Microsoft to build a universal Xbox store that spans across the PC, Xbox, and mobile devices. Should Microsoft execute all the mentioned strategies from the leak, the prospect of cross-platform advertising becomes more likely.

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Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision brings forth a strategy to integrate advertising into both PC and mobile games. This strategic shift aims to diversify revenue streams and could pave the way for the introduction of ad-supported tiers within Xbox Game Pass. Although this is an unpopular opinion in the gaming community, what is your stand in this?

Watch This Story: Top 5 Most Played Antstream Arcade Games on Xbox

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Written by:

Viren Mirpuri

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Viren is an Esports Writer at EssentiallySports. With a Mass Media degree in one hand and a gaming controller in another, he is set to document every milestone in the gaming industry. As an Esports journalist, he has covered over 500 articles about what is fresh in the scene.
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Edited by:

Ananya Giri