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Xbox players are greeted with a full-screen pop-up ad for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III when they boot up their Xbox console

Gavon West

Spread's Cheeks for Intrusive Ads
Until the next time you boot up the console maybe...

Do you not see how when we start letting companies up the ante with anti-gamer things like Ads, we're another step closer to an even worse anti-gamer experience?

It's like exercising our "rights" as gamers. If people don't exercise their rights in the real world they eventually get taken away.

If you can't see the similarities here then I don't know what to tell you.
GTFO. All this for an ad you can exit from by pressing X?? It's not the first game to do this and certainly not the last. Just be honest: you feel some kinda way because you think it's pushing the acquisition in your face. The acquisition is history. Done deal. It's finished and will remain that,way for the foreseeable future. Press X like everyone else and move on...good lord.
 

skit_data

Member
One of the reasons I moved away from the Windows OS was ads and bloatware slowly starting to make their way into the most fundamental parts of the interface. I see the consoles are really no better in that regard.
 

MarkMe2525

Member
I wonder where you see these ads on switch menu honestly? I'm used to open my switch, see my games and no ads. I'd blame Nintendo for things like wanting to sell my data to google without asking me by adding an hidden option in the console preferences but I've definitly never seen any ads on the launch menu. Are you talking about the E-Shop maybe?

You say I'm backpeddling but then you defend yourself with whataboutism... Your examples don't change the fact that Sony and Nintendo began making us pay for online after MS showed them that most of us were ok to pay for online on our consoles. If dreamcast payed online service really was this relevant, then I'm sure Sony and Nintendo wouldn't have waited resepctivly the PS4 and the Switch to make us pay to play P2P online games.

Edit: Ok I see what you mean with Switch ads, they're definitly there but I'm so used to press a 3 times while changing my monitor to HDMI that I never see them. Nothing like that COD ad you have to see so that you can select that button to tell you're not interrested.
I was correcting your false claims that MS were first, or at least the cause, of other companies ad practices. I provided examples and facts, not whataboutisms. I came at you too strong for sure and I own that, but c'mon, you were clearly basing your assertions off of incorrect assumptions. Just own it, I for sure have had my facts twisted in the past. Dismissing the correct info and doubling down is not the way.

Edit: I once argued that providing a video source with a higher resolution feed would not increase the IQ on a fixed resolution display (example "since a 720p TV can only display a fixed amount of pixels, a 1080p source will not look better on any particular 720p TV vs a 720 source.") I was wrong, shown examples proving that, and I relented. We all do it.
 
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If I'm paying for Game Pass (ie a premium service), I should have the option to completely turn off ads unless it's something on available on Game Pass.

This is why I like the simple Nintendo Switch home screen. No bullshit. Just your games in a row and nothing else UNLESS you put your clicker over it. The lack of media apps on Switch is basically a "feature" in and of itself.
The PS3, PS4, and PS5 home screens also only show your games and nothing else unless you intentionally scroll to view the PS Store page. Of the Big 3, only Microsoft pushes ads in your home screen. I remember my OG 360 UI, it never had ads. I'm never going to buy another Xbox again until they remove ads from the home screen.
 

adamsapple

Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
This is why I like the simple Nintendo Switch home screen. No bullshit. Just your games in a row and nothing else UNLESS you put your clicker over it.
The Switch delivers ads to me everytime I wake it from sleep. Let's not get carried away here'

Does Switch have ads or not? I'm confused lol.

The PS3, PS4, and PS5 home screens also only show your games and nothing else unless you intentionally scroll to view the PS Store page. Of the Big 3, only Microsoft pushes ads in your home screen. I remember my OG 360 UI, it never had ads. I'm never going to buy another Xbox again until they remove ads from the home screen.

This is objectively false, there is a Modern Warfare 3 trailer/ad panel on my PS5 home screen on the default panel after it boots up. There's also a ghostrunner 2 panel, a game I have not bought or on my cart or anything.



IQSsldv.png
 
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Power Pro

Member
Jesus christ, fuck off with that shit. I hate call of duty, so knowing this I don't even want to boot up my xbox for a while.
 
I wonder if people were this up in arms when this same thing happened a few years ago on PS4? Remember those adds that popped up in the form of game tiles?

This is something that we all will have to deal with in the modern era. Commercialism is just something unavoidable in entertainment these days. I have to watch the NFL without the sound because there are awful commercials every few minutes: two minutes of football, five minutes of commercials.
 

Three

Member
LMAO Windows users are next, get ready for the ads in Windows too fufu~
It's already too late for that:

 
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OCL

Member
If I'm paying for Game Pass (ie a premium service), I should have the option to completely turn off ads unless it's something on available on Game Pass.

This is why I like the simple Nintendo Switch home screen. No bullshit. Just your games in a row and nothing else UNLESS you put your clicker over it. The lack of media apps on Switch is basically a "feature" in and of itself.
You should have the option to completly turn off ads even if you don't have gamepass
 

RickMasters

Member
Lord... you guys are the worst with this Xbox pays their fans thing. I was joking/trolling with the "awesome" comment. I really don't see the splash as a big deal, and I probably won't even see it as I use the stand-by mode.
I’m just wondering what they are gonna do when YouTube completely blocks adblock. people Seem to forget there was a time when you had ads on terrestrial TV for five whole mins and could not skip none of that shit. Now people act like it’s the end of the world because they have to click the A button a few times to skip this shit. first world problems eh? 🙄😅😅😅
 

Black_Stride

do not tempt fate do not contrain Wonder Woman's thighs do not do not
LMAO Windows users are next, get ready for the ads in Windows too fufu~

Microsoft advertising their products in their environments.........Windows is "next"?
Clearly you dont actually use Windows.
Cuz you know Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 and Windows 11 already came out right?

2016-09-21-image-3.png

Windows 7 advertising Windows 10^


img_55bfd4bf8b614.jpg

Windows 10 advertising random shit^


Windows-11-upgrade-alert.jpg

Windows 10 advertising Windows 11^
 
Microsoft advertising their products in their environments.........Windows is "next"?
Clearly you dont actually use Windows.
Cuz you know Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 and Windows 11 already came out right?

2016-09-21-image-3.png

Windows 7 advertising Windows 10^


img_55bfd4bf8b614.jpg

Windows 10 advertising random shit^


Windows-11-upgrade-alert.jpg

Windows 10 advertising Windows 11^
Odd, I don't have any of that stuff in windows, though I also have w10 pro, that I actually paid for, no free upgrade stuff.
 

Three

Member
I dont really defend this practice, but is it really that hard to just press B to decline and move on?
Ads are irritating in general but here somebody said it even stopped them from being able to use their machine remotely. We shouldn't put up with this stuff to be honest so I'm glad there is pushback. Give them an inch with these ads and they will take a mile to sell you stuff.
 

Black_Stride

do not tempt fate do not contrain Wonder Woman's thighs do not do not
Odd, I don't have any of that stuff in windows, though I also have w10 pro, that I actually paid for, no free upgrade stuff.

You paid for Windows 10?

jj9p8sR.jpg




My Windows 7 license has carried me all the way to Windows 11, I skipped 8 and 8.1 but the Windows 10 update looked enticing so I jumped on it.





P.S Maybe your computer doesnt qualify for Windows 11 otherwise you should have seen the advert for Windows 11.
 

King Dazzar

Member
Odd, I don't have any of that stuff in windows, though I also have w10 pro, that I actually paid for, no free upgrade stuff.
From 7 through to 10 and not one single ad, ever. Not that the example is anything remotely similar impact wise, to booting up a console and having your massive 85" Tv plastered with an entire full screen forced advert. Still, at least it manages your expectations for the Xbox "experience" from the off.
 
Odd, I don't have any of that stuff in windows, though I also have w10 pro, that I actually paid for, no free upgrade stuff.
Careful there, you're going to break the narrative they are trying to establish.

Don't tell them my Windows machines are all on 11 but I have the lock screen entirely disabled, Windows Spotlight turned off, Suggestions turned off, telemetry disabled, etc.

If Microsoft actually ever circled around and prevented users from disabling all the ads and telemetry and shit in Windows, then I would drop Windows for good. But they won't, because corporate customers who actually are the ones paying for Windows won't stand for that shit. As long as corporate customers demand the ability to disable that garbage in Windows, end users who know how to disable it are in good shape.
 

xrnzaaas

Member
Does Switch have ads or not? I'm confused lol.



This is objectively false, there is a Modern Warfare 3 trailer/ad panel on my PS5 home screen on the default panel after it boots up. There's also a ghostrunner 2 panel, a game I have not bought or on my cart or anything.



IQSsldv.png
You should be able to disable featured content (at least in Europe), I think it was in automatic downloads. Should solve the problem of game tiles appearing for products you don't own.

And yeah, just like it was already mentioned when playing here in Europe I don't get the 'explore' tile at all.
 
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StreetsofBeige

Gold Member
False alarm on my end. Didnt get the message. I even restarted the system and didnt get it.

Instead, I got this "Level up your game experience" splash screen asking if i wanted to take part in some marketing BS or whatever..... Yes or No Thanks.

No thanks.
 

Faust

Perpetually Tired
Staff Member
Microsoft advertising their products in their environments.........Windows is "next"?
Clearly you dont actually use Windows.
Cuz you know Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 and Windows 11 already came out right?

2016-09-21-image-3.png

Windows 7 advertising Windows 10^


img_55bfd4bf8b614.jpg

Windows 10 advertising random shit^


Windows-11-upgrade-alert.jpg

Windows 10 advertising Windows 11^

This is why I switched to Linux. My life has been better for it.
 

Ozzie666

Member
Only a matter of time for paid ads, especailly for a subscription service like Gamepass. Either when you download the game, or when you boot it up. Load a game and a short 10 second add, then play the game. It's going to be glorious.
 

Cashon

Banned
I dont really defend this practice, but is it really that hard to just press B to decline and move on?
Is it really that hard to just click the X to close a pop-up? Is it really that hard to just watch a 15-second ad before a YouTube video?

These are the mindsets that allow this kind of crap to get worse and worse. We should be fighting this, not lying down and taking in the eye socket.


Is there some way to mass-brigade their support with a message that says not to do this again?
 
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You only have to look at the original design last year for the current dashboard to see where this was going. It received overwhelming negative feedback and rightly so , it was like a magazine page advertising gamepass it was that obnoxious and of course they put out the “we hear your feedback “ shite once again.

If so many are bothered about this they probably use that line yet again.
 
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Black_Stride

do not tempt fate do not contrain Wonder Woman's thighs do not do not
w10 pro, and of course, why wouldn't I?
Cuz its been free since Windows 7......unless Windows 10 was your first Windows machine you really shouldnt be paying for it.

I didnt even know people were actually still paying for Window.
 

Nydius

Member
I just had this pop up so ended up here to make sure it was widespread.

This is scummy as fuck. There’s already an obscene amount of advertising on the Xbox dashboard. Far more than what’s on the PS5’s dash. Forcing full screen ads users must click off and cannot opt-out of on system boot is beyond the pale.

No one - no one - should be okay with this, let alone justify it. Users should never be greeted with an ad they have to manually close to get to the core functionality of their console, regardless of platform.

Can’t say I’m surprised this is coming from Microsoft though. I remember their second X360 UI revamp that basically turned something like 75% of your main menu screen into ad space.
 
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