Xbox May Try Out Ad-Supported Game Streaming In India: Report

In a bid to broaden its gaming horizons, Xbox is considering an innovative approach to gaming in countries like India: ad-supported game streaming.

What Happened? Tim Stuart, Xbox’s Chief Financial Officer, hinted at this possibility during his interview at the Wells Fargo TMT Summit. The concept revolves around offering free access to Xbox’s cloud gaming through xCloud, in exchange for watching advertisements. This model, still in the conceptual stage, targets regions where consoles aren’t the primary gaming platform, such as India and Southeast Asia.

This approach specifically targets younger demographics in these regions, who predominantly use mobile devices and have limited disposable income. This strategy aligns with Microsoft’s broader goal of geographic expansion and accessibility in gaming.

See also: Tesla’s India Dream Hits New Hurdle? No Proposals For Subsidy On EV Imports Says Minister

What’s the plan? Stuart’s vision suggests a scenario where viewers might watch a short ad to enjoy a few hours of gaming, thereby opening a window to millions of potential gamers who were previously out of reach due to economic constraints.

This plan, if implemented, would mark a significant shift in Xbox’s business model, particularly in the Indian market, where mobile gaming has a substantial foothold. However, the actual implementation of this ad-supported game streaming service for xCloud remains to be confirmed. Meanwhile, advertisements will continue to feature in popular Activision Blizzard King games like Candy Crush.

Read next: This Govt Firm Looks To Joins List Of Indian Companies Buying Oil From Venezuela Again