Microsoft has patented a system that could insert advertisements into games after players exceed a set period of ad-free play. Ads would appear at natural pauses, such as loading screens or when a game is paused, temporarily removing control from the player.

The patent describes an “ad credit” that resets after each advert, though Microsoft has not said whether the technology will be implemented or which games might use it. The prospect is particularly controversial amid Xbox’s proposed price increases, job cuts, studio closures and wider financial pressures, although the system could potentially be limited to free-to-play or discounted games.