Xbox Game Pass streaming could get a free option where users watch ads to play

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Microsoft is considering ad-based business models for its Xbox Game Pass streaming service, according to chief financial officer Tim Stuart.

Speaking at the Wells Fargo TMT Summit, Stuart spoke about plans to bring Xbox Game Pass to "places that aren't console first." For these locations, he suggested that "you can say 'Hey, do you want to watch 30 seconds of an ad and then get two hours of game streaming?' (via VGC).

“[In] Africa [...] 50 percent of the population is 23 years old or younger with a growing disposable income base, all with cell phones and mobile devices, not a lot of high-end disposable income, generally speaking. So, we can go in with our own business models and say - there [are] millions of gamers we would never have been able to address, and now we can go in with our business models."

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Initially reported by TweakTown, Stuart's plans could spell a shake-up for the video game streaming landscape, should they be translated into tangible business practices.

The Wells Fargo TMT summit was initially held on November 28, where Stuart emphasized the scope of Microsoft's wider goal to bring Game Pass "to every screen that can play games." However, these new quotes reported by TweakTown shine a new light on Microsoft's potential approach to rolling out Xbox Game Pass' streaming service on a global scale.

Since we already knew that Stuart hinted at "a bit of a change of strategy" for the company, it comes as no surprise that Microsoft might experiment with this sort of adventurous approach to monetization. We also know that Microsoft's ambitions to reach "every screen" include "smart TVs [...] mobile devices, that means [reaching out to] what we would have thought of as competitors in the past like PlayStation and Nintendo."

Given that Xbox Game Pass costs "over a billion dollars a year," it's clear that Microsoft wishes to get the most out of its ambitious subscription service. Perhaps the potential addition of an ad-driven approach to monetization could spell gains for the company in the long run.

The best Xbox Game Pass games are great ways to spend time. However, we've also got a list of the best single-player games, if you're looking for a broader roundup.

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An editor and freelance journalist, Cat Bussell has been writing about video games for more than four years and, frankly, she’s developed a taste for it. As seen on TechRadar, Technopedia, The Gamer, Wargamer, and SUPERJUMP, Cat’s reviews, features, and guides are lovingly curated for your reading pleasure.

A Cambridge graduate, recovering bartender, and Cloud Strife enjoyer, Cat’s foremost mission is to bring you the best coverage she can, whether that’s through helpful guides, even-handed reviews, or thought-provoking features. She’s interviewed indie darlings, triple-A greats, and legendary voice actors, all to help you get closer to the action. When she’s not writing, Cat can be found sticking her neck into a fresh RPG or running yet another Dungeons & Dragons game.