Advertising overload: Difference between revisions

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Operating systems have been experiencing advertising overload, most notably the large market lead [[Windows]]. [[Activision Blizzard|King]]'s Candy Crush frequently comes pre-installed on [[Windows]] 10 operating systems,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moscaritolo |first=Angela |date=15 May 2025 |title=Windows 10 Will Come With Candy Crush Saga Pre-Installed |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/windows-10-will-come-with-candy-crush-saga-pre-installed |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[PCMag]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250130100032/https://www.pcmag.com/news/windows-10-will-come-with-candy-crush-saga-pre-installed |archive-date=30 Jan 2025}}</ref> without consumer consent, and this game is additionally loaded with ads.<ref>[https://www.clashofgaming.com/en/problems-with-ads-in-candy-crush-saga-solutions-and-tips Problems with ads in Candy Crush Saga - Solutions and tips]</ref> Microsoft Solitaire Collection, a mainstay title for Windows devices, has had unnecessary ads inserted into the software.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 Feb 2020 |title=Unwanted ads in solitaire collection |url=https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/unwanted-ads-in-solitaire-collection/814c97f6-30e5-478d-89f0-dfcad1085485 |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Microsoft]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708174717/https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/unwanted-ads-in-solitaire-collection/814c97f6-30e5-478d-89f0-dfcad1085485 |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=29 Aug 2024 |title=How to stop ads on Microsoft Solitaire collection? |url=https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/how-to-stop-ads-on-microsoft-solitaire-collection/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Games Learning Society]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250508004832/https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/how-to-stop-ads-on-microsoft-solitaire-collection/ |archive-date=8 May 2025}}</ref> Users who purchased Windows 10+ licenses have reported a progressively increasing number of ads within the software.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hoffman |first=Chris |date=28 Feb 2021 |title=How to Disable All of Windows 10's Built-in Advertising |url=https://www.howtogeek.com/269331/how-to-disable-all-of-windows-10s-built-in-advertising/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[How-To Geek]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260125093825/https://www.howtogeek.com/269331/how-to-disable-all-of-windows-10s-built-in-advertising/ |archive-date=25 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=De Leon |first=Nicholas |date=21 Oct 2024 |title=How to Get Rid of the Ads and Other Shortcomings in Windows 11 |url=https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics-computers/computers/windows-11-how-to-get-rid-of-ads-and-other-shortcomings-a7800213441/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Consumer Reports]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250723174357/https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics-computers/computers/windows-11-how-to-get-rid-of-ads-and-other-shortcomings-a7800213441/ |archive-date=23 Jul 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1 Apr 2023 |title=Every time I login to my PC a screen advertising Game Pass appears. How do I stop this? |url=https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/every-time-i-login-to-my-pc-a-screen-advertising/6f83ad8a-3dab-43ef-871e-979b58965f6f |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Microsoft]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708174703/https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/every-time-i-login-to-my-pc-a-screen-advertising/6f83ad8a-3dab-43ef-871e-979b58965f6f |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref> Windows 10 additionally has pop-ups that frequently prompt legacy users to purchase Windows 11-supported hardware.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Irwin |first=Kate |date=21 Nov 2024 |title=Microsoft Pushes Copilot+ PCs on Windows 10 Users With Pop-Up Ads |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/microsoft-pushes-copilot-plus-pcs-on-windows-10-users-with-pop-up-ads |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2024 |website=[[PCMag]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250126125054/https://www.pcmag.com/news/microsoft-pushes-copilot-plus-pcs-on-windows-10-users-with-pop-up-ads |archive-date=26 Jan 2025}}</ref> While it is possible to disable this pop-up via registry editing in Win 10 Pro edition,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stagg |first=Dave |date=Feb 14, 2022 |title=How to disable the Windows 11 Upgrade prompt |url=https://endpointfocus.com/how-to-disable-the-windows-11-upgrade-prompt/ |access-date=Mar 15, 2025 |work=Endpoint Focus |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250130215921/https://endpointfocus.com/how-to-disable-the-windows-11-upgrade-prompt/ |archive-date=30 Jan 2025}}</ref> the registries that are changed with this method are the ones which handle receiving any update, including security updates.

Smart televisions also have been seeing a sharp increase in advertisements within the operating system as well, such as [[Roku]]<ref>[https://advertising.roku.com/ Roku Advertising]</ref> and [[Amazon]] Fire TV.<ref>[https://advertising.amazon.com/resources/ad-specs/fire-tv Amazon Advertising]</ref> [[Roku]] has faced criticism for its plans to introduce ads that appear whenever users pause a game they are playing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zwiezen |first=Zack |date=4 Apr 2024 |title=Roku’s New HDMI Tech Could Show Ads When You Pause Your Game |url=https://kotaku.com/roku-patent-hdmi-tech-tv-ads-game-console-pause-screen-1851388976 |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Kotaku]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708174717/https://kotaku.com/roku-patent-hdmi-tech-tv-ads-game-console-pause-screen-1851388976 |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref> This introduces privacy concerns since these detection systems depend on constant spying on consumer's activities.

Smart televisions also have been seeing a sharp increase in advertisements within the operating system as well, such as [[Roku]]<ref>[https://advertising.roku.com/ ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260201023014/https://advertising.roku.com/ Archived]) Roku Advertising]</ref> and [[Amazon]] Fire TV.<ref>[https://advertising.amazon.com/resources/ad-specs/fire-tv ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251215085117/https://advertising.amazon.com/resources/ad-specs/fire-tv Archived]) Amazon Advertising]</ref> [[Roku]] has faced criticism for its plans to introduce ads that appear whenever users pause a game they are playing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zwiezen |first=Zack |date=4 Apr 2024 |title=Roku’s New HDMI Tech Could Show Ads When You Pause Your Game |url=https://kotaku.com/roku-patent-hdmi-tech-tv-ads-game-console-pause-screen-1851388976 |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Kotaku]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708174717/https://kotaku.com/roku-patent-hdmi-tech-tv-ads-game-console-pause-screen-1851388976 |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref> This introduces privacy concerns since these detection systems depend on constant spying on consumer's activities.

[[File:Fire TV ads.png|thumb|A screenshot of the home screen for an Amazon Fire TV]]

[[File:Xbox One Dashboard.jpg|thumb|The Xbox One dashboard as of 2022]]

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===Streaming services===

In the late 2010s, there was a polarizing shift within the streaming service industry. New streaming services like IMDB TV and [[Roku]] Television came onto the scene offering free streaming, with the caveat of ads.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 Mar 2025 |title=Free ad-supported streaming television |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_ad-supported_streaming_television |url-status=live |website=[[Wikipedia]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260203184000/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_ad-supported_streaming_television |archive-date=3 Feb 2026}}</ref> This inspired corporations who operated premium streaming services to do the same. In the early 2020s, paying users were forced to watch ads.<ref name=":8">[https://help.netflix.com/en/node/126831 Ads on Netflix]</ref> Since then, users have only been reporting an increase in the amounts of ads<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=11 Sep 2021 |title=Share of adults who think there were too many ads on video streaming services in the United States as of September 2021, by generation |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/1307619/video-streaming-advertising-frequency-by-generation-us/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Statista]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260215212237/https://www.statista.com/statistics/1307619/video-streaming-advertising-frequency-by-generation-us/ |archive-date=15 Feb 2026}}</ref> that they watch on their services.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Daly |first=Scott |date=5 Jan 2025 |title=Amazon Prime Video Increases Ad Frequency In The US To Boost Revenue |url=https://9meters.com/entertainment/streaming/amazon-prime-video-increases-advertisements-in-the-us-to-boost-revenue-increase-ad-free-signups |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[9meters]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250724175144/https://9meters.com/entertainment/streaming/amazon-prime-video-increases-advertisements-in-the-us-to-boost-revenue-increase-ad-free-signups |archive-date=24 Jul 2025}}</ref> These premium providers, such as [[Netflix, Inc.|Netflix]],<ref name=":8" /> do offer versions of their services that are ad free at a higher cost. Consumers have labeled this practice as a form of extortion.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Roettgers |first=Janko |date=23 Sep 2023 |title=Why every streaming service wants you to watch ads now |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90956587/why-every-streaming-service-wants-you-to-watch-ads-now |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Fast Company]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251127234258/https://www.fastcompany.com/90956587/why-every-streaming-service-wants-you-to-watch-ads-now |archive-date=27 Nov 2025}}</ref> Plex is one of the few services which only offer a paid, ad-supported version of its platform.

In the late 2010s, there was a polarizing shift within the streaming service industry. New streaming services like IMDB TV and [[Roku]] Television came onto the scene offering free streaming, with the caveat of ads.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 Mar 2025 |title=Free ad-supported streaming television |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_ad-supported_streaming_television |url-status=live |website=[[Wikipedia]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260203184000/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_ad-supported_streaming_television |archive-date=3 Feb 2026}}</ref> This inspired corporations who operated premium streaming services to do the same. In the early 2020s, paying users were forced to watch ads.<ref name=":8">[https://help.netflix.com/en/node/126831 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260128131131/https://help.netflix.com/en/node/126831 Archived]) Ads on Netflix]</ref> Since then, users have only been reporting an increase in the amounts of ads<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=11 Sep 2021 |title=Share of adults who think there were too many ads on video streaming services in the United States as of September 2021, by generation |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/1307619/video-streaming-advertising-frequency-by-generation-us/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Statista]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260215212237/https://www.statista.com/statistics/1307619/video-streaming-advertising-frequency-by-generation-us/ |archive-date=15 Feb 2026}}</ref> that they watch on their services.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Daly |first=Scott |date=5 Jan 2025 |title=Amazon Prime Video Increases Ad Frequency In The US To Boost Revenue |url=https://9meters.com/entertainment/streaming/amazon-prime-video-increases-advertisements-in-the-us-to-boost-revenue-increase-ad-free-signups |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[9meters]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250724175144/https://9meters.com/entertainment/streaming/amazon-prime-video-increases-advertisements-in-the-us-to-boost-revenue-increase-ad-free-signups |archive-date=24 Jul 2025}}</ref> These premium providers, such as [[Netflix, Inc.|Netflix]],<ref name=":8" /> do offer versions of their services that are ad free at a higher cost. Consumers have labeled this practice as a form of extortion.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Roettgers |first=Janko |date=23 Sep 2023 |title=Why every streaming service wants you to watch ads now |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90956587/why-every-streaming-service-wants-you-to-watch-ads-now |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Fast Company]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251127234258/https://www.fastcompany.com/90956587/why-every-streaming-service-wants-you-to-watch-ads-now |archive-date=27 Nov 2025}}</ref> Plex is one of the few services which only offer a paid, ad-supported version of its platform.

These ad-free tiers additionally are increasing in price,<ref name=":2" /> so it often forces consumers who are disinterested in alternative means to either pay an excessive amount of money to watch their favorite media, or be barraged by increasing ads.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

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[[Activision Blizzard]] has a dedicated advertising division for companies to advertise their products inside their games.<ref>https://www.activisionblizzardmedia.com/ ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260103021919/https://www.activisionblizzardmedia.com/ Archived])</ref> [[Epic Games, Inc.|Epic Games]] has done a similar thing.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Joey |date=24 Jul 2024 |title=Fortnite Ads |url=https://gomediashark.com/fortnite-ads/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Media Shark]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260215212419/https://gomediashark.com/fortnite-ads/ |archive-date=15 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lattin |first=Pesach |date=27 Jan 2023 |title=Fortnite In-Game Advertising. How does it Work? |url=https://www.adotat.com/2023/01/fortnite-in-game-advertising-how-does-it-work/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[aDOtat]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251017164045/https://www.adotat.com/2023/01/fortnite-in-game-advertising-how-does-it-work/ |archive-date=17 Oct 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Byrd |first=Matthew |date=Dec 2, 2020 |title=How Fortnite Became Gaming’s Great Shameless Marketing Tool |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/games/fortnite-marketing-tool-epic-games-events-star-wars-marvel/ |access-date=Mar 15, 2025 |work=Den of Geek |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251215013514/https://www.denofgeek.com/games/fortnite-marketing-tool-epic-games-events-star-wars-marvel/ |archive-date=15 Dec 2025}}</ref> It is expected that legitimate ads may be progressively more pervasive within the media that users pay for.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Olivia |date=11 Oct 2023 |title=In-Game Advertising: How it Works and Why it Works |url=https://abiosgaming.com/press/in-game-adverting-fortnite/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Abios]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251205150742/https://abiosgaming.com/press/in-game-adverting-fortnite/ |archive-date=5 Dec 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=15 Mar 2025 |title=In-game advertising |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In-game_advertising |url-status=live |website=[[Wikipedia]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251201201031/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In-game_advertising |archive-date=1 Dec 2025}}</ref> Advertising agencies in general are also trying to integrate billboard ads for legitimate products inside games, such as Trackmania.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vargas |first=Anthony |date=2 Mar 2022 |title=NBCU Adds In-Game Ads To Its Sales Roster Through Partnership With Anzu |url=https://www.adexchanger.com/gaming/nbcu-adds-in-game-ads-to-its-sales-roster-through-partnership-with-anzu/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Ad Exchanger]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251114020308/https://www.adexchanger.com/gaming/nbcu-adds-in-game-ads-to-its-sales-roster-through-partnership-with-anzu/ |archive-date=14 Nov 2025}}</ref>

[[Activision Blizzard]] has a dedicated advertising division for companies to advertise their products inside their games.<ref>https://www.activisionblizzardmedia.com/ ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260103021919/https://www.activisionblizzardmedia.com/ Archived]) ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260103021919/https://www.activisionblizzardmedia.com/ Archived])</ref> [[Epic Games, Inc.|Epic Games]] has done a similar thing.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Joey |date=24 Jul 2024 |title=Fortnite Ads |url=https://gomediashark.com/fortnite-ads/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Media Shark]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260215212419/https://gomediashark.com/fortnite-ads/ |archive-date=15 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lattin |first=Pesach |date=27 Jan 2023 |title=Fortnite In-Game Advertising. How does it Work? |url=https://www.adotat.com/2023/01/fortnite-in-game-advertising-how-does-it-work/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[aDOtat]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251017164045/https://www.adotat.com/2023/01/fortnite-in-game-advertising-how-does-it-work/ |archive-date=17 Oct 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Byrd |first=Matthew |date=Dec 2, 2020 |title=How Fortnite Became Gaming’s Great Shameless Marketing Tool |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/games/fortnite-marketing-tool-epic-games-events-star-wars-marvel/ |access-date=Mar 15, 2025 |work=Den of Geek |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251215013514/https://www.denofgeek.com/games/fortnite-marketing-tool-epic-games-events-star-wars-marvel/ |archive-date=15 Dec 2025}}</ref> It is expected that legitimate ads may be progressively more pervasive within the media that users pay for.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Olivia |date=11 Oct 2023 |title=In-Game Advertising: How it Works and Why it Works |url=https://abiosgaming.com/press/in-game-adverting-fortnite/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Abios]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251205150742/https://abiosgaming.com/press/in-game-adverting-fortnite/ |archive-date=5 Dec 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=15 Mar 2025 |title=In-game advertising |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In-game_advertising |url-status=live |website=[[Wikipedia]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251201201031/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In-game_advertising |archive-date=1 Dec 2025}}</ref> Advertising agencies in general are also trying to integrate billboard ads for legitimate products inside games, such as Trackmania.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vargas |first=Anthony |date=2 Mar 2022 |title=NBCU Adds In-Game Ads To Its Sales Roster Through Partnership With Anzu |url=https://www.adexchanger.com/gaming/nbcu-adds-in-game-ads-to-its-sales-roster-through-partnership-with-anzu/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Ad Exchanger]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251114020308/https://www.adexchanger.com/gaming/nbcu-adds-in-game-ads-to-its-sales-roster-through-partnership-with-anzu/ |archive-date=14 Nov 2025}}</ref>

[[File:Anzu-NBCU-partership-1024x490.jpg|thumb|In-game ads in Trackmania]]

Some platforms have gone so far as to send users notifications explicitly promoting these new products available for purchase within the game.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Khan |first=Huzaifa |date=24 Nov 2023 |title=Ubisoft Cites “Technical Error” For Recent In-Game Pop-Up Fiasco |url=https://exputer.com/news/games/ubisoft-technical-error-in-game-ad/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Exputer]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251206085537/https://exputer.com/news/games/ubisoft-technical-error-in-game-ad/ |archive-date=6 Dec 2025}}</ref> Most have kept these notifications in-game,<ref>{{Cite web |title=How to get rid of GTA Online ads on loading screens |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/GrandTheftAutoV/comments/l3xthb/how_to_get_rid_of_gta_online_ads_on_loading/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20210127195925/https://www.reddit.com/r/GrandTheftAutoV/comments/l3xthb/how_to_get_rid_of_gta_online_ads_on_loading/ |archive-date=27 Jan 2021}}</ref> but some have been reported to leave notification pop-ups directly on users' devices.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 Mar 2023 |title=Why am I constantly having game app ads popping up even when I'm not playing games? |url=https://support.google.com/googleplay/thread/204580579/why-am-i-constantly-having-game-app-ads-popping-up-even-when-i-m-not-playing-games?hl=en |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Google Play Help]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250115063953/https://support.google.com/googleplay/thread/204580579/why-am-i-constantly-having-game-app-ads-popping-up-even-when-i-m-not-playing-games?hl=en |archive-date=15 Jan 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=12 Oct 2023 |title=Game ads keep popping up every 15-30 seconds! |url=https://www.amazonforum.com/s/question/0D56Q0000CLnjCLSQZ/game-ads-keep-popping-up-every-1530-seconds |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Amazon Forum]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708174714/https://www.amazonforum.com/s/question/0D56Q0000CLnjCLSQZ/game-ads-keep-popping-up-every-1530-seconds |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref> It is entirely plausible that these marketplace advertisements will increase in popularity from publishers as time goes on. <gallery>

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====Advergaming====

Further reading: [[Advergames]]

While not as popular as it once was, companies would pay developers to work on games that exist solely to advertise a product, such as McDonald's McWorld, which also advertised other products inside the game.<ref>https://massivelyop.com/2020/05/23/the-game-archaeologist-mcdonalds-mcworld-mmo-is-a-thing-that-existed/ ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250829122526/https://massivelyop.com/2020/05/23/the-game-archaeologist-mcdonalds-mcworld-mmo-is-a-thing-that-existed/ Archived])</ref> Sometimes these games would also introduce additional anticonsumer practices, often to the detriment of young kids.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moran |first=Eric |date=27 Jan 2023 |title=McWorld: What happens when a fast food restaurant create an online virtual world |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nerFPG-PEQ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[YouTube]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250825132954/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nerFPG-PEQ |archive-date=25 Aug 2025}}</ref> Many of these games were made as shovelware as well, so many of these games are often not meant for an extended period of time to be accessible. Older advergames often only sold for a short period, only up to a few years at best, so if a game held any quality, there is a problem of [[FOMO]], this has been seen with popular titles such as Pepsiman on the PS1 or Cool Spot on the Sega Genesis. In the 2000s, these games often preferred accessing servers, mostly to encourage serving additional ads. Many of these would not last long, and these products people invest into are just taken away from them, such as ToonTown<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Heather |date=23 Aug 2013 |title=Coping with the loss of an online world |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/23/tech/gaming-gadgets/closing-toontown/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[CNN]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250813162715/https://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/23/tech/gaming-gadgets/closing-toontown/index.html |archive-date=13 Aug 2025}}</ref> or Club Penguin.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Martinelli |first=Marissa |date=3 Apr 2017 |title=Disney’s Beloved Club Penguin Has Shut Down After More Than a Decade. We Documented Its Final Days. |url=https://slate.com/culture/2017/04/what-the-end-of-disneys-mmo-club-penguin-was-like-inside-the-game.html |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Slate]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251219191942/https://slate.com/culture/2017/04/what-the-end-of-disneys-mmo-club-penguin-was-like-inside-the-game.html |archive-date=19 Dec 2025}}</ref>

While not as popular as it once was, companies would pay developers to work on games that exist solely to advertise a product, such as McDonald's McWorld, which also advertised other products inside the game.<ref>https://massivelyop.com/2020/05/23/the-game-archaeologist-mcdonalds-mcworld-mmo-is-a-thing-that-existed/ ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260223005215/https://massivelyop.com/2020/05/23/the-game-archaeologist-mcdonalds-mcworld-mmo-is-a-thing-that-existed/ Archived]) ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250829122526/https://massivelyop.com/2020/05/23/the-game-archaeologist-mcdonalds-mcworld-mmo-is-a-thing-that-existed/ Archived])</ref> Sometimes these games would also introduce additional anticonsumer practices, often to the detriment of young kids.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moran |first=Eric |date=27 Jan 2023 |title=McWorld: What happens when a fast food restaurant create an online virtual world |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nerFPG-PEQ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[YouTube]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250825132954/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nerFPG-PEQ |archive-date=25 Aug 2025}}</ref> Many of these games were made as shovelware as well, so many of these games are often not meant for an extended period of time to be accessible. Older advergames often only sold for a short period, only up to a few years at best, so if a game held any quality, there is a problem of [[FOMO]], this has been seen with popular titles such as Pepsiman on the PS1 or Cool Spot on the Sega Genesis. In the 2000s, these games often preferred accessing servers, mostly to encourage serving additional ads. Many of these would not last long, and these products people invest into are just taken away from them, such as ToonTown<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Heather |date=23 Aug 2013 |title=Coping with the loss of an online world |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/23/tech/gaming-gadgets/closing-toontown/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[CNN]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250813162715/https://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/23/tech/gaming-gadgets/closing-toontown/index.html |archive-date=13 Aug 2025}}</ref> or Club Penguin.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Martinelli |first=Marissa |date=3 Apr 2017 |title=Disney’s Beloved Club Penguin Has Shut Down After More Than a Decade. We Documented Its Final Days. |url=https://slate.com/culture/2017/04/what-the-end-of-disneys-mmo-club-penguin-was-like-inside-the-game.html |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Slate]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251219191942/https://slate.com/culture/2017/04/what-the-end-of-disneys-mmo-club-penguin-was-like-inside-the-game.html |archive-date=19 Dec 2025}}</ref>

In the modern day, Advergaming has largely preferred existing metaverses, such as Roblox<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bains |first=Callum |date=13 Jul 2024 |title=‘Advergames’: how games platform Roblox became a corporate marketing playground |url=https://www.theguardian.com/games/article/2024/jul/13/advergames-how-games-platform-roblox-became-a-corporate-marketing-playground |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Guardian]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260215212500/https://www.theguardian.com/games/article/2024/jul/13/advergames-how-games-platform-roblox-became-a-corporate-marketing-playground |archive-date=15 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Chantelle |date=4 Jun 2024 |title=Ikea is Hiring 10 Roblox Players to Work at In-Game Store |url=https://time.com/6985642/ikea-hiring-workers-roblox-game/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Time]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250723195409/https://time.com/6985642/ikea-hiring-workers-roblox-game/ |archive-date=23 Jul 2025}}</ref> or the literal Metaverse.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Laughlin |first=Charles |date=14 Jun 2022 |title=Is Dining in the Metaverse Real? Brands Seem to Think So |url=https://www.localogy.com/2022/06/is-dining-in-the-metaverse-real-brands-seem-to-think-so/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Localogy]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708174722/https://www.localogy.com/2022/06/is-dining-in-the-metaverse-real-brands-seem-to-think-so/ |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref> These too, have brought controversy<ref>{{Cite web |last=Diaz |first=Ana |date=22 Apr 2022 |title=Roblox is ‘exploiting’ users with deceptive advertising, watchdog group says |url=https://www.polygon.com/23035640/roblox-ads-deceptive-ftc-complaint |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Polygon]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210010651/https://www.polygon.com/23035640/roblox-ads-deceptive-ftc-complaint/ |archive-date=10 Feb 2026}}</ref> and can be seen as anti-consumer.

===Mobile gaming===

A feature often associated with modern day mobile games are ads, especially [[False advertising|misleading ads]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shetty |first=Saurabh |date=27 Jan 2024 |title=How misleading mobile game ads are hurting the industry |url=https://gamingonphone.com/editorial/how-misleading-mobile-game-ads-are-hurting-the-industry/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[GamingonPhone]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250821164359/https://gamingonphone.com/editorial/how-misleading-mobile-game-ads-are-hurting-the-industry/ |archive-date=21 Aug 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Raghuram |first=Vignesh |date=25 Oct 2024 |title=False Promises, Real Profits: Why Misleading Ads Work for Mobile Games |url=https://afkgaming.com/global/false-promises-real-profits-why-misleading-ads-work-for-mobile-games |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[AFKGaming]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250803090619/https://afkgaming.com/global/false-promises-real-profits-why-misleading-ads-work-for-mobile-games |archive-date=3 Aug 2025}}</ref> Unfortunately, publishers such as Puzzle1Studio, Metacore Games, and [[Rovio]] have a history of publishing titles that corner the consumer into frequently watching ads in the middle of their games.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=LaMarca |first=Livia |date=8 Dec 2022 |title=Opinion {{!}} Oh my god, please stop the excessive ads on mobile games! |url=https://pittnews.com/article/177875/opinions/opinion-oh-my-god-please-stop-the-excessive-ads-on-mobile-games/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[ThePittNews]]}}</ref> This practice additionally leeches into Microtransactions, wherein these app developers will intentionally try to coax users into watching ads for increased rewards, or to reduce cooldown times.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Kew-Denniss |first=Zachary |date=7 Dec 2023 |title=Google and Apple share the blame for mobile gaming's awful reputation |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/google-apple-share-blame-for-mobile-gamings-awful-reputation/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Android Police]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251213062816/https://www.androidpolice.com/google-apple-share-blame-for-mobile-gamings-awful-reputation/ |archive-date=13 Dec 2025}}</ref>

A feature often associated with modern day mobile games are ads, especially [[False advertising|misleading ads]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shetty |first=Saurabh |date=27 Jan 2024 |title=How misleading mobile game ads are hurting the industry |url=https://gamingonphone.com/editorial/how-misleading-mobile-game-ads-are-hurting-the-industry/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[GamingonPhone]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250821164359/https://gamingonphone.com/editorial/how-misleading-mobile-game-ads-are-hurting-the-industry/ |archive-date=21 Aug 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Raghuram |first=Vignesh |date=25 Oct 2024 |title=False Promises, Real Profits: Why Misleading Ads Work for Mobile Games |url=https://afkgaming.com/global/false-promises-real-profits-why-misleading-ads-work-for-mobile-games |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[AFKGaming]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250803090619/https://afkgaming.com/global/false-promises-real-profits-why-misleading-ads-work-for-mobile-games |archive-date=3 Aug 2025}}</ref> Unfortunately, publishers such as Puzzle1Studio, Metacore Games, and [[Rovio]] have a history of publishing titles that corner the consumer into frequently watching ads in the middle of their games.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=LaMarca |first=Livia |date=8 Dec 2022 |title=Opinion {{!}} Oh my god, please stop the excessive ads on mobile games! |url=https://pittnews.com/article/177875/opinions/opinion-oh-my-god-please-stop-the-excessive-ads-on-mobile-games/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[ThePittNews]]|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260211161555/https://pittnews.com/article/177875/opinions/opinion-oh-my-god-please-stop-the-excessive-ads-on-mobile-games/ |archive-date=11 Feb 2026}}</ref> This practice additionally leeches into Microtransactions, wherein these app developers will intentionally try to coax users into watching ads for increased rewards, or to reduce cooldown times.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Kew-Denniss |first=Zachary |date=7 Dec 2023 |title=Google and Apple share the blame for mobile gaming's awful reputation |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/google-apple-share-blame-for-mobile-gamings-awful-reputation/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Android Police]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251213062816/https://www.androidpolice.com/google-apple-share-blame-for-mobile-gamings-awful-reputation/ |archive-date=13 Dec 2025}}</ref>

Major software distribution platforms, such as the Google Play store or the iOS App Store, often allow this behavior<ref name=":4" /> to persist from app developers, even featuring these ad-heavy games.

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===Web===

See also: [[Advertising overload in websites|Advertising Overload in Websites]]

Ever since the introduction of cookies in the early 1990s, websites have been trying to make progressively more money off of advertisers. This pattern used to be easily thwarted, as in the early days of the web, consumers could simply choose not to visit these websites to avoid being so pervasively served advertisements. Unfortunately, in modern times, consumers lack this capability, as mass advertising has now become a systemic problem. Popular news sources, such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and others, are filled to the brim with advertisements. As mentioned by publications such as The Huffington Post,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Elliot |first=Christopher |date=8 Feb 2017 |title=Yes, There Are Too Many Ads Online. Yes, You Can Stop Them. Here's How. |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/yes-there-are-too-many-ads-online-yes-you-can-stop_b_589b888de4b02bbb1816c297 |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[HuffPost]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251127141328/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/yes-there-are-too-many-ads-online-yes-you-can-stop_b_589b888de4b02bbb1816c297 |archive-date=27 Nov 2025}}</ref> The Conversation,<ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Steve |date=18 Sep 2024 |title=Why is the internet overflowing with rubbish ads – and what can we do about it? |url=https://theconversation.com/why-is-the-internet-overflowing-with-rubbish-ads-and-what-can-we-do-about-it-237980 |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Conversation]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260126234756/https://theconversation.com/why-is-the-internet-overflowing-with-rubbish-ads-and-what-can-we-do-about-it-237980 |archive-date=26 Jan 2026}}</ref> and B2,<ref>https://www.b2.ai/ad-overload-are-publishers-showing-too-many-ads/ ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250815092938/https://www.b2.ai/ad-overload-are-publishers-showing-too-many-ads/ Archived])</ref> the web itself has too many ads.

Ever since the introduction of cookies in the early 1990s, websites have been trying to make progressively more money off of advertisers. This pattern used to be easily thwarted, as in the early days of the web, consumers could simply choose not to visit these websites to avoid being so pervasively served advertisements. Unfortunately, in modern times, consumers lack this capability, as mass advertising has now become a systemic problem. Popular news sources, such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and others, are filled to the brim with advertisements. As mentioned by publications such as The Huffington Post,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Elliot |first=Christopher |date=8 Feb 2017 |title=Yes, There Are Too Many Ads Online. Yes, You Can Stop Them. Here's How. |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/yes-there-are-too-many-ads-online-yes-you-can-stop_b_589b888de4b02bbb1816c297 |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[HuffPost]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251127141328/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/yes-there-are-too-many-ads-online-yes-you-can-stop_b_589b888de4b02bbb1816c297 |archive-date=27 Nov 2025}}</ref> The Conversation,<ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Steve |date=18 Sep 2024 |title=Why is the internet overflowing with rubbish ads – and what can we do about it? |url=https://theconversation.com/why-is-the-internet-overflowing-with-rubbish-ads-and-what-can-we-do-about-it-237980 |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Conversation]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260126234756/https://theconversation.com/why-is-the-internet-overflowing-with-rubbish-ads-and-what-can-we-do-about-it-237980 |archive-date=26 Jan 2026}}</ref> and B2,<ref>https://www.b2.ai/ad-overload-are-publishers-showing-too-many-ads/ ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250815092938/https://www.b2.ai/ad-overload-are-publishers-showing-too-many-ads/ Archived]) ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250815092938/https://www.b2.ai/ad-overload-are-publishers-showing-too-many-ads/ Archived])</ref> the web itself has too many ads.

====Banner Ads====

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 Operating systems have been experiencing advertising overload, most notably the large market lead [[Windows]]. [[Activision Blizzard|King]]'s Candy Crush frequently comes pre-installed on [[Windows]] 10 operating systems,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moscaritolo |first=Angela |date=15 May 2025 |title=Windows 10 Will Come With Candy Crush Saga Pre-Installed |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/windows-10-will-come-with-candy-crush-saga-pre-installed |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[PCMag]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250130100032/https://www.pcmag.com/news/windows-10-will-come-with-candy-crush-saga-pre-installed |archive-date=30 Jan 2025}}</ref> without consumer consent, and this game is additionally loaded with ads.<ref>[https://www.clashofgaming.com/en/problems-with-ads-in-candy-crush-saga-solutions-and-tips Problems with ads in Candy Crush Saga - Solutions and tips]</ref> Microsoft Solitaire Collection, a mainstay title for Windows devices, has had unnecessary ads inserted into the software.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 Feb 2020 |title=Unwanted ads in solitaire collection |url=https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/unwanted-ads-in-solitaire-collection/814c97f6-30e5-478d-89f0-dfcad1085485 |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Microsoft]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708174717/https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/unwanted-ads-in-solitaire-collection/814c97f6-30e5-478d-89f0-dfcad1085485 |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=29 Aug 2024 |title=How to stop ads on Microsoft Solitaire collection? |url=https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/how-to-stop-ads-on-microsoft-solitaire-collection/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Games Learning Society]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250508004832/https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/how-to-stop-ads-on-microsoft-solitaire-collection/ |archive-date=8 May 2025}}</ref> Users who purchased Windows 10+ licenses have reported a progressively increasing number of ads within the software.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hoffman |first=Chris |date=28 Feb 2021 |title=How to Disable All of Windows 10's Built-in Advertising |url=https://www.howtogeek.com/269331/how-to-disable-all-of-windows-10s-built-in-advertising/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[How-To Geek]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260125093825/https://www.howtogeek.com/269331/how-to-disable-all-of-windows-10s-built-in-advertising/ |archive-date=25 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=De Leon |first=Nicholas |date=21 Oct 2024 |title=How to Get Rid of the Ads and Other Shortcomings in Windows 11 |url=https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics-computers/computers/windows-11-how-to-get-rid-of-ads-and-other-shortcomings-a7800213441/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Consumer Reports]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250723174357/https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics-computers/computers/windows-11-how-to-get-rid-of-ads-and-other-shortcomings-a7800213441/ |archive-date=23 Jul 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1 Apr 2023 |title=Every time I login to my PC a screen advertising Game Pass appears. How do I stop this? |url=https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/every-time-i-login-to-my-pc-a-screen-advertising/6f83ad8a-3dab-43ef-871e-979b58965f6f |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Microsoft]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708174703/https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/every-time-i-login-to-my-pc-a-screen-advertising/6f83ad8a-3dab-43ef-871e-979b58965f6f |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref> Windows 10 additionally has pop-ups that frequently prompt legacy users to purchase Windows 11-supported hardware.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Irwin |first=Kate |date=21 Nov 2024 |title=Microsoft Pushes Copilot+ PCs on Windows 10 Users With Pop-Up Ads |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/microsoft-pushes-copilot-plus-pcs-on-windows-10-users-with-pop-up-ads |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2024 |website=[[PCMag]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250126125054/https://www.pcmag.com/news/microsoft-pushes-copilot-plus-pcs-on-windows-10-users-with-pop-up-ads |archive-date=26 Jan 2025}}</ref> While it is possible to disable this pop-up via registry editing in Win 10 Pro edition,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stagg |first=Dave |date=Feb 14, 2022 |title=How to disable the Windows 11 Upgrade prompt |url=https://endpointfocus.com/how-to-disable-the-windows-11-upgrade-prompt/ |access-date=Mar 15, 2025 |work=Endpoint Focus |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250130215921/https://endpointfocus.com/how-to-disable-the-windows-11-upgrade-prompt/ |archive-date=30 Jan 2025}}</ref> the registries that are changed with this method are the ones which handle receiving any update, including security updates.
-Smart televisions also have been seeing a sharp increase in advertisements within the operating system as well, such as [[Roku]]<ref>[https://advertising.roku.com/ Roku Advertising]</ref> and [[Amazon]] Fire TV.<ref>[https://advertising.amazon.com/resources/ad-specs/fire-tv Amazon Advertising]</ref> [[Roku]] has faced criticism for its plans to introduce ads that appear whenever users pause a game they are playing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zwiezen |first=Zack |date=4 Apr 2024 |title=Roku’s New HDMI Tech Could Show Ads When You Pause Your Game |url=https://kotaku.com/roku-patent-hdmi-tech-tv-ads-game-console-pause-screen-1851388976 |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Kotaku]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708174717/https://kotaku.com/roku-patent-hdmi-tech-tv-ads-game-console-pause-screen-1851388976 |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref> This introduces privacy concerns since these detection systems depend on constant spying on consumer's activities.
+Smart televisions also have been seeing a sharp increase in advertisements within the operating system as well, such as [[Roku]]<ref>[https://advertising.roku.com/ ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260201023014/https://advertising.roku.com/ Archived]) Roku Advertising]</ref> and [[Amazon]] Fire TV.<ref>[https://advertising.amazon.com/resources/ad-specs/fire-tv ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251215085117/https://advertising.amazon.com/resources/ad-specs/fire-tv Archived]) Amazon Advertising]</ref> [[Roku]] has faced criticism for its plans to introduce ads that appear whenever users pause a game they are playing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zwiezen |first=Zack |date=4 Apr 2024 |title=Roku’s New HDMI Tech Could Show Ads When You Pause Your Game |url=https://kotaku.com/roku-patent-hdmi-tech-tv-ads-game-console-pause-screen-1851388976 |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Kotaku]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708174717/https://kotaku.com/roku-patent-hdmi-tech-tv-ads-game-console-pause-screen-1851388976 |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref> This introduces privacy concerns since these detection systems depend on constant spying on consumer's activities.
 [[File:Fire TV ads.png|thumb|A screenshot of the home screen for an Amazon Fire TV]]
 [[File:Xbox One Dashboard.jpg|thumb|The Xbox One dashboard as of 2022]]
@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 ===Streaming services===
-In the late 2010s, there was a polarizing shift within the streaming service industry. New  streaming services like IMDB TV and [[Roku]] Television came onto the scene offering free streaming, with the caveat of ads.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 Mar 2025 |title=Free ad-supported streaming television |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_ad-supported_streaming_television |url-status=live |website=[[Wikipedia]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260203184000/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_ad-supported_streaming_television |archive-date=3 Feb 2026}}</ref> This inspired corporations who operated premium streaming services to do the same. In the early 2020s, paying users were forced to watch ads.<ref name=":8">[https://help.netflix.com/en/node/126831 Ads on Netflix]</ref> Since then, users have only been reporting an increase in the amounts of ads<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=11 Sep 2021 |title=Share of adults who think there were too many ads on video streaming services in the United States as of September 2021, by generation |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/1307619/video-streaming-advertising-frequency-by-generation-us/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Statista]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260215212237/https://www.statista.com/statistics/1307619/video-streaming-advertising-frequency-by-generation-us/ |archive-date=15 Feb 2026}}</ref> that they watch on their services.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Daly |first=Scott |date=5 Jan 2025 |title=Amazon Prime Video Increases Ad Frequency In The US To Boost Revenue |url=https://9meters.com/entertainment/streaming/amazon-prime-video-increases-advertisements-in-the-us-to-boost-revenue-increase-ad-free-signups |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[9meters]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250724175144/https://9meters.com/entertainment/streaming/amazon-prime-video-increases-advertisements-in-the-us-to-boost-revenue-increase-ad-free-signups |archive-date=24 Jul 2025}}</ref> These premium providers, such as [[Netflix, Inc.|Netflix]],<ref name=":8" /> do offer versions of their services that are ad free at a higher cost. Consumers have labeled this practice as a form of extortion.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Roettgers |first=Janko |date=23 Sep 2023 |title=Why every streaming service wants you to watch ads now |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90956587/why-every-streaming-service-wants-you-to-watch-ads-now |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Fast Company]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251127234258/https://www.fastcompany.com/90956587/why-every-streaming-service-wants-you-to-watch-ads-now |archive-date=27 Nov 2025}}</ref> Plex is one of the few services which only offer a paid, ad-supported version of its platform.<!-- I paid for Plex premium, but still get ads, and I cannot find out how to disable them -->
+In the late 2010s, there was a polarizing shift within the streaming service industry. New  streaming services like IMDB TV and [[Roku]] Television came onto the scene offering free streaming, with the caveat of ads.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 Mar 2025 |title=Free ad-supported streaming television |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_ad-supported_streaming_television |url-status=live |website=[[Wikipedia]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260203184000/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_ad-supported_streaming_television |archive-date=3 Feb 2026}}</ref> This inspired corporations who operated premium streaming services to do the same. In the early 2020s, paying users were forced to watch ads.<ref name=":8">[https://help.netflix.com/en/node/126831 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260128131131/https://help.netflix.com/en/node/126831 Archived]) Ads on Netflix]</ref> Since then, users have only been reporting an increase in the amounts of ads<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=11 Sep 2021 |title=Share of adults who think there were too many ads on video streaming services in the United States as of September 2021, by generation |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/1307619/video-streaming-advertising-frequency-by-generation-us/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Statista]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260215212237/https://www.statista.com/statistics/1307619/video-streaming-advertising-frequency-by-generation-us/ |archive-date=15 Feb 2026}}</ref> that they watch on their services.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Daly |first=Scott |date=5 Jan 2025 |title=Amazon Prime Video Increases Ad Frequency In The US To Boost Revenue |url=https://9meters.com/entertainment/streaming/amazon-prime-video-increases-advertisements-in-the-us-to-boost-revenue-increase-ad-free-signups |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[9meters]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250724175144/https://9meters.com/entertainment/streaming/amazon-prime-video-increases-advertisements-in-the-us-to-boost-revenue-increase-ad-free-signups |archive-date=24 Jul 2025}}</ref> These premium providers, such as [[Netflix, Inc.|Netflix]],<ref name=":8" /> do offer versions of their services that are ad free at a higher cost. Consumers have labeled this practice as a form of extortion.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Roettgers |first=Janko |date=23 Sep 2023 |title=Why every streaming service wants you to watch ads now |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90956587/why-every-streaming-service-wants-you-to-watch-ads-now |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Fast Company]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251127234258/https://www.fastcompany.com/90956587/why-every-streaming-service-wants-you-to-watch-ads-now |archive-date=27 Nov 2025}}</ref> Plex is one of the few services which only offer a paid, ad-supported version of its platform.<!-- I paid for Plex premium, but still get ads, and I cannot find out how to disable them -->
 These ad-free tiers additionally are increasing in price,<ref name=":2" /> so it often forces consumers who are disinterested in alternative means to either pay an excessive amount of money to watch their favorite media, or be barraged by increasing ads.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
@@ Line 34: / Line 34: @@
   -->
-[[Activision Blizzard]] has a dedicated advertising division for companies to advertise their products inside their games.<ref>https://www.activisionblizzardmedia.com/ ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260103021919/https://www.activisionblizzardmedia.com/ Archived])</ref> [[Epic Games, Inc.|Epic Games]] has done a similar thing.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Joey |date=24 Jul 2024 |title=Fortnite Ads |url=https://gomediashark.com/fortnite-ads/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Media Shark]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260215212419/https://gomediashark.com/fortnite-ads/ |archive-date=15 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lattin |first=Pesach |date=27 Jan 2023 |title=Fortnite In-Game Advertising. How does it Work? |url=https://www.adotat.com/2023/01/fortnite-in-game-advertising-how-does-it-work/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[aDOtat]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251017164045/https://www.adotat.com/2023/01/fortnite-in-game-advertising-how-does-it-work/ |archive-date=17 Oct 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Byrd |first=Matthew |date=Dec 2, 2020 |title=How Fortnite Became Gaming’s Great Shameless Marketing Tool |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/games/fortnite-marketing-tool-epic-games-events-star-wars-marvel/ |access-date=Mar 15, 2025 |work=Den of Geek |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251215013514/https://www.denofgeek.com/games/fortnite-marketing-tool-epic-games-events-star-wars-marvel/ |archive-date=15 Dec 2025}}</ref> It is expected that legitimate ads may be progressively more pervasive within the media that users pay for.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Olivia |date=11 Oct 2023 |title=In-Game Advertising: How it Works and Why it Works |url=https://abiosgaming.com/press/in-game-adverting-fortnite/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Abios]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251205150742/https://abiosgaming.com/press/in-game-adverting-fortnite/ |archive-date=5 Dec 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=15 Mar 2025 |title=In-game advertising |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In-game_advertising |url-status=live |website=[[Wikipedia]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251201201031/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In-game_advertising |archive-date=1 Dec 2025}}</ref> Advertising agencies in general are also trying to integrate billboard ads for legitimate products inside games, such as Trackmania.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vargas |first=Anthony |date=2 Mar 2022 |title=NBCU Adds In-Game Ads To Its Sales Roster Through Partnership With Anzu |url=https://www.adexchanger.com/gaming/nbcu-adds-in-game-ads-to-its-sales-roster-through-partnership-with-anzu/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Ad Exchanger]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251114020308/https://www.adexchanger.com/gaming/nbcu-adds-in-game-ads-to-its-sales-roster-through-partnership-with-anzu/ |archive-date=14 Nov 2025}}</ref>
+[[Activision Blizzard]] has a dedicated advertising division for companies to advertise their products inside their games.<ref>https://www.activisionblizzardmedia.com/ ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260103021919/https://www.activisionblizzardmedia.com/ Archived]) ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260103021919/https://www.activisionblizzardmedia.com/ Archived])</ref> [[Epic Games, Inc.|Epic Games]] has done a similar thing.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Joey |date=24 Jul 2024 |title=Fortnite Ads |url=https://gomediashark.com/fortnite-ads/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Media Shark]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260215212419/https://gomediashark.com/fortnite-ads/ |archive-date=15 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lattin |first=Pesach |date=27 Jan 2023 |title=Fortnite In-Game Advertising. How does it Work? |url=https://www.adotat.com/2023/01/fortnite-in-game-advertising-how-does-it-work/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[aDOtat]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251017164045/https://www.adotat.com/2023/01/fortnite-in-game-advertising-how-does-it-work/ |archive-date=17 Oct 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Byrd |first=Matthew |date=Dec 2, 2020 |title=How Fortnite Became Gaming’s Great Shameless Marketing Tool |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/games/fortnite-marketing-tool-epic-games-events-star-wars-marvel/ |access-date=Mar 15, 2025 |work=Den of Geek |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251215013514/https://www.denofgeek.com/games/fortnite-marketing-tool-epic-games-events-star-wars-marvel/ |archive-date=15 Dec 2025}}</ref> It is expected that legitimate ads may be progressively more pervasive within the media that users pay for.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Olivia |date=11 Oct 2023 |title=In-Game Advertising: How it Works and Why it Works |url=https://abiosgaming.com/press/in-game-adverting-fortnite/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Abios]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251205150742/https://abiosgaming.com/press/in-game-adverting-fortnite/ |archive-date=5 Dec 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=15 Mar 2025 |title=In-game advertising |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In-game_advertising |url-status=live |website=[[Wikipedia]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251201201031/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In-game_advertising |archive-date=1 Dec 2025}}</ref> Advertising agencies in general are also trying to integrate billboard ads for legitimate products inside games, such as Trackmania.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vargas |first=Anthony |date=2 Mar 2022 |title=NBCU Adds In-Game Ads To Its Sales Roster Through Partnership With Anzu |url=https://www.adexchanger.com/gaming/nbcu-adds-in-game-ads-to-its-sales-roster-through-partnership-with-anzu/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Ad Exchanger]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251114020308/https://www.adexchanger.com/gaming/nbcu-adds-in-game-ads-to-its-sales-roster-through-partnership-with-anzu/ |archive-date=14 Nov 2025}}</ref>
 [[File:Anzu-NBCU-partership-1024x490.jpg|thumb|In-game ads in Trackmania]]
 Some platforms have gone so far as to send users notifications explicitly promoting these new products available for purchase within the game.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Khan |first=Huzaifa |date=24 Nov 2023 |title=Ubisoft Cites “Technical Error” For Recent In-Game Pop-Up Fiasco |url=https://exputer.com/news/games/ubisoft-technical-error-in-game-ad/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Exputer]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251206085537/https://exputer.com/news/games/ubisoft-technical-error-in-game-ad/ |archive-date=6 Dec 2025}}</ref> Most have kept these notifications in-game,<ref>{{Cite web |title=How to get rid of GTA Online ads on loading screens |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/GrandTheftAutoV/comments/l3xthb/how_to_get_rid_of_gta_online_ads_on_loading/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20210127195925/https://www.reddit.com/r/GrandTheftAutoV/comments/l3xthb/how_to_get_rid_of_gta_online_ads_on_loading/ |archive-date=27 Jan 2021}}</ref><!-- There isn't a whole lot of documentation on everything advertised in GTAO, but when I used to play it, I remembered it often trying to encourage me to buy Shark Cards. --> but some have been reported to leave notification pop-ups directly on users' devices.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 Mar 2023 |title=Why am I constantly having game app ads popping up even when I'm not playing games? |url=https://support.google.com/googleplay/thread/204580579/why-am-i-constantly-having-game-app-ads-popping-up-even-when-i-m-not-playing-games?hl=en |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Google Play Help]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250115063953/https://support.google.com/googleplay/thread/204580579/why-am-i-constantly-having-game-app-ads-popping-up-even-when-i-m-not-playing-games?hl=en |archive-date=15 Jan 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=12 Oct 2023 |title=Game ads keep popping up every 15-30 seconds! |url=https://www.amazonforum.com/s/question/0D56Q0000CLnjCLSQZ/game-ads-keep-popping-up-every-1530-seconds |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Amazon Forum]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708174714/https://www.amazonforum.com/s/question/0D56Q0000CLnjCLSQZ/game-ads-keep-popping-up-every-1530-seconds |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref> It is entirely plausible that these marketplace advertisements will increase in popularity from publishers as time goes on. <gallery>
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 ====Advergaming====
   Further reading: [[Advergames]]
-While not as popular as it once was, companies would pay developers to work on games that exist solely to advertise a product, such as McDonald's McWorld, which also advertised other products inside the game.<ref>https://massivelyop.com/2020/05/23/the-game-archaeologist-mcdonalds-mcworld-mmo-is-a-thing-that-existed/ ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250829122526/https://massivelyop.com/2020/05/23/the-game-archaeologist-mcdonalds-mcworld-mmo-is-a-thing-that-existed/ Archived])</ref> Sometimes these games would also introduce additional anticonsumer practices, often to the detriment of young kids.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moran |first=Eric |date=27 Jan 2023 |title=McWorld: What happens when a fast food restaurant create an online virtual world |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nerFPG-PEQ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[YouTube]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250825132954/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nerFPG-PEQ |archive-date=25 Aug 2025}}</ref> <!-- Okay, I actually think McWorld deserves a bit of an article here lol - JamesTDG -->Many of these games were made as shovelware as well, so many of these games are often not meant for an extended period of time to be accessible. Older advergames often only sold for a short period, only up to a few years at best, so if a game held any quality, there is a problem of [[FOMO]], this has been seen with popular titles such as Pepsiman on the PS1 or Cool Spot on the Sega Genesis. In the 2000s, these games often preferred accessing servers, mostly to encourage serving additional ads. Many of these would not last long, and these products people invest into are just taken away from them, such as ToonTown<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Heather |date=23 Aug 2013 |title=Coping with the loss of an online world |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/23/tech/gaming-gadgets/closing-toontown/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[CNN]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250813162715/https://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/23/tech/gaming-gadgets/closing-toontown/index.html |archive-date=13 Aug 2025}}</ref> or Club Penguin.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Martinelli |first=Marissa |date=3 Apr 2017 |title=Disney’s Beloved Club Penguin Has Shut Down After More Than a Decade. We Documented Its Final Days. |url=https://slate.com/culture/2017/04/what-the-end-of-disneys-mmo-club-penguin-was-like-inside-the-game.html |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Slate]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251219191942/https://slate.com/culture/2017/04/what-the-end-of-disneys-mmo-club-penguin-was-like-inside-the-game.html |archive-date=19 Dec 2025}}</ref>
+While not as popular as it once was, companies would pay developers to work on games that exist solely to advertise a product, such as McDonald's McWorld, which also advertised other products inside the game.<ref>https://massivelyop.com/2020/05/23/the-game-archaeologist-mcdonalds-mcworld-mmo-is-a-thing-that-existed/ ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260223005215/https://massivelyop.com/2020/05/23/the-game-archaeologist-mcdonalds-mcworld-mmo-is-a-thing-that-existed/ Archived]) ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250829122526/https://massivelyop.com/2020/05/23/the-game-archaeologist-mcdonalds-mcworld-mmo-is-a-thing-that-existed/ Archived])</ref> Sometimes these games would also introduce additional anticonsumer practices, often to the detriment of young kids.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moran |first=Eric |date=27 Jan 2023 |title=McWorld: What happens when a fast food restaurant create an online virtual world |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nerFPG-PEQ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[YouTube]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250825132954/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nerFPG-PEQ |archive-date=25 Aug 2025}}</ref> <!-- Okay, I actually think McWorld deserves a bit of an article here lol - JamesTDG -->Many of these games were made as shovelware as well, so many of these games are often not meant for an extended period of time to be accessible. Older advergames often only sold for a short period, only up to a few years at best, so if a game held any quality, there is a problem of [[FOMO]], this has been seen with popular titles such as Pepsiman on the PS1 or Cool Spot on the Sega Genesis. In the 2000s, these games often preferred accessing servers, mostly to encourage serving additional ads. Many of these would not last long, and these products people invest into are just taken away from them, such as ToonTown<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Heather |date=23 Aug 2013 |title=Coping with the loss of an online world |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/23/tech/gaming-gadgets/closing-toontown/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[CNN]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250813162715/https://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/23/tech/gaming-gadgets/closing-toontown/index.html |archive-date=13 Aug 2025}}</ref> or Club Penguin.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Martinelli |first=Marissa |date=3 Apr 2017 |title=Disney’s Beloved Club Penguin Has Shut Down After More Than a Decade. We Documented Its Final Days. |url=https://slate.com/culture/2017/04/what-the-end-of-disneys-mmo-club-penguin-was-like-inside-the-game.html |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Slate]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251219191942/https://slate.com/culture/2017/04/what-the-end-of-disneys-mmo-club-penguin-was-like-inside-the-game.html |archive-date=19 Dec 2025}}</ref>
 In the modern day, Advergaming has largely preferred existing metaverses, such as Roblox<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bains |first=Callum |date=13 Jul 2024 |title=‘Advergames’: how games platform Roblox became a corporate marketing playground |url=https://www.theguardian.com/games/article/2024/jul/13/advergames-how-games-platform-roblox-became-a-corporate-marketing-playground |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Guardian]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260215212500/https://www.theguardian.com/games/article/2024/jul/13/advergames-how-games-platform-roblox-became-a-corporate-marketing-playground |archive-date=15 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Chantelle |date=4 Jun 2024 |title=Ikea is Hiring 10 Roblox Players to Work at In-Game Store |url=https://time.com/6985642/ikea-hiring-workers-roblox-game/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Time]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250723195409/https://time.com/6985642/ikea-hiring-workers-roblox-game/ |archive-date=23 Jul 2025}}</ref> or the literal Metaverse.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Laughlin |first=Charles |date=14 Jun 2022 |title=Is Dining in the Metaverse Real? Brands Seem to Think So |url=https://www.localogy.com/2022/06/is-dining-in-the-metaverse-real-brands-seem-to-think-so/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Localogy]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708174722/https://www.localogy.com/2022/06/is-dining-in-the-metaverse-real-brands-seem-to-think-so/ |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref> These too, have brought controversy<ref>{{Cite web |last=Diaz |first=Ana |date=22 Apr 2022 |title=Roblox is ‘exploiting’ users with deceptive advertising, watchdog group says |url=https://www.polygon.com/23035640/roblox-ads-deceptive-ftc-complaint |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Polygon]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210010651/https://www.polygon.com/23035640/roblox-ads-deceptive-ftc-complaint/ |archive-date=10 Feb 2026}}</ref> and can be seen as anti-consumer.
 ===Mobile gaming===
-A feature often associated with modern day mobile games are ads, especially [[False advertising|misleading ads]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shetty |first=Saurabh |date=27 Jan 2024 |title=How misleading mobile game ads are hurting the industry |url=https://gamingonphone.com/editorial/how-misleading-mobile-game-ads-are-hurting-the-industry/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[GamingonPhone]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250821164359/https://gamingonphone.com/editorial/how-misleading-mobile-game-ads-are-hurting-the-industry/ |archive-date=21 Aug 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Raghuram |first=Vignesh |date=25 Oct 2024 |title=False Promises, Real Profits: Why Misleading Ads Work for Mobile Games |url=https://afkgaming.com/global/false-promises-real-profits-why-misleading-ads-work-for-mobile-games |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[AFKGaming]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250803090619/https://afkgaming.com/global/false-promises-real-profits-why-misleading-ads-work-for-mobile-games |archive-date=3 Aug 2025}}</ref> Unfortunately, publishers such as Puzzle1Studio, Metacore Games, and [[Rovio]] have a history of publishing titles that corner the consumer into frequently watching ads in the middle of their games.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=LaMarca |first=Livia |date=8 Dec 2022 |title=Opinion {{!}} Oh my god, please stop the excessive ads on mobile games! |url=https://pittnews.com/article/177875/opinions/opinion-oh-my-god-please-stop-the-excessive-ads-on-mobile-games/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[ThePittNews]]}}</ref> This practice additionally leeches into Microtransactions, wherein these app developers will intentionally try to coax users into watching ads for increased rewards, or to reduce cooldown times.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Kew-Denniss |first=Zachary |date=7 Dec 2023 |title=Google and Apple share the blame for mobile gaming's awful reputation |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/google-apple-share-blame-for-mobile-gamings-awful-reputation/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Android Police]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251213062816/https://www.androidpolice.com/google-apple-share-blame-for-mobile-gamings-awful-reputation/ |archive-date=13 Dec 2025}}</ref>
+A feature often associated with modern day mobile games are ads, especially [[False advertising|misleading ads]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shetty |first=Saurabh |date=27 Jan 2024 |title=How misleading mobile game ads are hurting the industry |url=https://gamingonphone.com/editorial/how-misleading-mobile-game-ads-are-hurting-the-industry/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[GamingonPhone]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250821164359/https://gamingonphone.com/editorial/how-misleading-mobile-game-ads-are-hurting-the-industry/ |archive-date=21 Aug 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Raghuram |first=Vignesh |date=25 Oct 2024 |title=False Promises, Real Profits: Why Misleading Ads Work for Mobile Games |url=https://afkgaming.com/global/false-promises-real-profits-why-misleading-ads-work-for-mobile-games |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[AFKGaming]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250803090619/https://afkgaming.com/global/false-promises-real-profits-why-misleading-ads-work-for-mobile-games |archive-date=3 Aug 2025}}</ref> Unfortunately, publishers such as Puzzle1Studio, Metacore Games, and [[Rovio]] have a history of publishing titles that corner the consumer into frequently watching ads in the middle of their games.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=LaMarca |first=Livia |date=8 Dec 2022 |title=Opinion {{!}} Oh my god, please stop the excessive ads on mobile games! |url=https://pittnews.com/article/177875/opinions/opinion-oh-my-god-please-stop-the-excessive-ads-on-mobile-games/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[ThePittNews]]|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260211161555/https://pittnews.com/article/177875/opinions/opinion-oh-my-god-please-stop-the-excessive-ads-on-mobile-games/ |archive-date=11 Feb 2026}}</ref> This practice additionally leeches into Microtransactions, wherein these app developers will intentionally try to coax users into watching ads for increased rewards, or to reduce cooldown times.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Kew-Denniss |first=Zachary |date=7 Dec 2023 |title=Google and Apple share the blame for mobile gaming's awful reputation |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/google-apple-share-blame-for-mobile-gamings-awful-reputation/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Android Police]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251213062816/https://www.androidpolice.com/google-apple-share-blame-for-mobile-gamings-awful-reputation/ |archive-date=13 Dec 2025}}</ref>
 Major software distribution platforms, such as the Google Play store or the iOS App Store, often allow this behavior<ref name=":4" /> to persist from app developers, even featuring these ad-heavy games.
@@ Line 80: / Line 80: @@
 ===Web===
   See also: [[Advertising overload in websites|Advertising Overload in Websites]]
-Ever since the introduction of cookies in the early 1990s, websites have been trying to make progressively more money off of advertisers. This pattern used to be easily thwarted, as in the early days of the web, consumers could simply choose not to visit these websites to avoid being so pervasively served advertisements. Unfortunately, in modern times, consumers lack this capability, as mass advertising has now become a systemic problem. Popular news sources, such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and others, are filled to the brim with advertisements. As mentioned by publications such as The Huffington Post,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Elliot |first=Christopher |date=8 Feb 2017 |title=Yes, There Are Too Many Ads Online. Yes, You Can Stop Them. Here's How. |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/yes-there-are-too-many-ads-online-yes-you-can-stop_b_589b888de4b02bbb1816c297 |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[HuffPost]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251127141328/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/yes-there-are-too-many-ads-online-yes-you-can-stop_b_589b888de4b02bbb1816c297 |archive-date=27 Nov 2025}}</ref> The Conversation,<ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Steve |date=18 Sep 2024 |title=Why is the internet overflowing with rubbish ads – and what can we do about it? |url=https://theconversation.com/why-is-the-internet-overflowing-with-rubbish-ads-and-what-can-we-do-about-it-237980 |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Conversation]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260126234756/https://theconversation.com/why-is-the-internet-overflowing-with-rubbish-ads-and-what-can-we-do-about-it-237980 |archive-date=26 Jan 2026}}</ref> and B2,<ref>https://www.b2.ai/ad-overload-are-publishers-showing-too-many-ads/ ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250815092938/https://www.b2.ai/ad-overload-are-publishers-showing-too-many-ads/ Archived])</ref> the web itself has too many ads.
+Ever since the introduction of cookies in the early 1990s, websites have been trying to make progressively more money off of advertisers. This pattern used to be easily thwarted, as in the early days of the web, consumers could simply choose not to visit these websites to avoid being so pervasively served advertisements. Unfortunately, in modern times, consumers lack this capability, as mass advertising has now become a systemic problem. Popular news sources, such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and others, are filled to the brim with advertisements. As mentioned by publications such as The Huffington Post,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Elliot |first=Christopher |date=8 Feb 2017 |title=Yes, There Are Too Many Ads Online. Yes, You Can Stop Them. Here's How. |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/yes-there-are-too-many-ads-online-yes-you-can-stop_b_589b888de4b02bbb1816c297 |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[HuffPost]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251127141328/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/yes-there-are-too-many-ads-online-yes-you-can-stop_b_589b888de4b02bbb1816c297 |archive-date=27 Nov 2025}}</ref> The Conversation,<ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Steve |date=18 Sep 2024 |title=Why is the internet overflowing with rubbish ads – and what can we do about it? |url=https://theconversation.com/why-is-the-internet-overflowing-with-rubbish-ads-and-what-can-we-do-about-it-237980 |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Conversation]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260126234756/https://theconversation.com/why-is-the-internet-overflowing-with-rubbish-ads-and-what-can-we-do-about-it-237980 |archive-date=26 Jan 2026}}</ref> and B2,<ref>https://www.b2.ai/ad-overload-are-publishers-showing-too-many-ads/ ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250815092938/https://www.b2.ai/ad-overload-are-publishers-showing-too-many-ads/ Archived]) ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250815092938/https://www.b2.ai/ad-overload-are-publishers-showing-too-many-ads/ Archived])</ref> the web itself has too many ads.
 ====Banner Ads====