Xbox exec clarifies Netflix-style in-game ads would be a bad idea

The prospect of Netflix-style ads in video games has grown with the rise of game streaming, and recent comments from Xbox's chief strategy officer Matthew Ball amplified those concerns. Windows Central reported that Ball was considering in-game ads, but Ball pushed back on Twitter, saying he was only 10 days into the role when asked about a prior comment and was not stating the company's plans.

"At no point do I even mention in-game ads," he wrote. Ball's earlier remarks were specifically about "pause screen ads" like those on Hulu, Peacock and HBO Max, while The Game Business referred to those as "in-game ads," a distinction that may have caused confusion.

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