// PC GAMER — GAMING
Say hello to EA Advertising, which will let your favourite brands 'integrate' ads to 'enhance' your experience
"In these interactive gameplay environments, brands become part of the game itself."
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Almost exactly two years ago, EA CEO Andrew Wilson was asked in an earnings call about sticking ads in games. His response was, obviously, a yes: "We have teams internally in the company right now looking at how we do very thoughtful implementations inside of our game experiences."
As inevitable as the passage of time, it's come to fruition. The publishing giant behind all of your favourite games from a decade ago has announced EA Advertising—a new platform that offers brands in-game advertisements. Or, as EA puts it, "in-game integrations, creative partnerships, and scalable advertising capabilities".
Across all platforms, EA's games reach more than 120 million players per month, it claims, making it the perfect candidate to offer widescale adverts. Right now, at least, these ads will be injected into its sports games, namely EA Sports FC and Madden NFL.
More specifically, these ads will allow brands to "integrate directly into gameplay through dynamic, real-time placements, from stadium signage to custom in-game content, designed to enhance, not disrupt, the player experience." Further examples given include things like in-game challenges, reward-driven objectives, branded content, or cosmetics.
"In these interactive gameplay environments, brands become part of the game itself, reflecting how players engage with advertising in real-world contexts."
Chief Experiences Officer at EA, David Tinson, expanded on this by saying that it's an opportunity for companies to "add value and respect the player experience".
Some of the first partners of EA's new ad-venture include Visa, Lowe's, Red Bull, Xfinity, Peacock, and Mountain Dew, which have already featured in its sports games. For example, Red Bull has "engaged EA SPORTS FC players through branded in-game objectives, team kits, and athlete ambassador collaborations".
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