HTC has pitched a new advertisement platform to developers and advertisers. This system can be integrated to show real ads in fictional VR environments.

Innovative VR ADs are similar to native ads 3.0, offering an unprecedented ad viewing experience, delivering immersive VR environment on cinema-scale screens, and offering interactive elements to further promote user engagement. Therefore, VR Advertising is not simply an interruption, but a synonym of exceptional experience!

This would give advertisers the opportunity to advertise to users without having to interrupt the flow of the gameplay. An example of this system in action: say that you're playing The Division and you've just done that one mission where you have to get the power back on at Times Square. In the game, the ads playing on the screens were made specifically for the game, whereas this system can show you real ads within the actual game world. There is also the ability to advertise during loading screens, but that's not something many players are waiting for either.

According to HTC, their method gets more impressions from users because it can be added to the immersion factor if done right.

Ads that appear in immersive VR environments can not only provide more effective impressions, they can also track whether the users have viewed them or have turned away their gaze. Accordingly, the multiplied effect of effective impressions and verified viewings will bring you higher advertising revenue!

Obvious comparisons with Black Mirror aside, interested parties can download an SDK to use in their products. Advertisers will only have to pay when their advertisements get seen by consumers. Note that this feature is currently only supported on VIVEPORT , HTC's VR app shop and it's currently something developers have to opt-into. To use The Division as an example again: ads would only show up in the hypothetical VIVEPORT-exclusive version of the game and only if Ubisoft themselves opted-into the program.

Quick Take

I didn't see this one coming, but I can't say that I'm surprised. VR being the next big thing means that other industries are also paying attention to the medium and are always devising new ways to generate revenue. I don't particularly want ads in my VR games, but I do see how it can add to the immersion if done right.

What do you think of ads in the HTC Vive? Let us know in the comment section down below!