Amid growing speculation about an ad-supported version of Xbox Game Pass, a newly discovered Microsoft patent outlines a system that would insert advertisements directly into gameplay. The patent, filed in April and recently published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), was spotted and shared by the website Respawn First. The patent, titled "Contextually Aware Management of Interactive Software Application Access," describes a method for games to pause briefly and show ads under specific conditions, aiming to avoid disrupting the player's experience. According to the patent, ads would only appear after predefined in-game events, such as completing five rounds of gameplay, finishing a level, completing three multiplayer matches, defeating a specific non-playable character (NPC), or finishing a task within the game. This structured approach is designed to prevent ads from interrupting critical moments, like during a boss fight or intense gameplay sequence. The patent also mentions that ads could be shown before starting a streaming session, a method similar to how free-to-play mobile games often display ads between levels. This approach may be less intrusive than inserting ads mid-game, which could be more disruptive to the player's experience. For some time, there has been speculation that Microsoft might introduce a cheaper, ad-supported tier of Xbox Game Pass. This idea has gained more traction now that the company is offering free cloud gaming with ads. However, the idea of inserting ads directly into gameplay for Game Pass titles is likely to face criticism from players and developers alike. Rumors also suggest that the ad-supported tier might not include day-one releases of Xbox games, though Microsoft has not officially confirmed or denied this. Despite these potential changes, Microsoft continues to invest in high-profile projects, including two games by famed game designer Hideo Kojima: OD and Physint, both of which feature well-known actors.