- Windows 11 has a new ad for PC game passes in testing
- It allows you to give up to five friends a 14-day free trial
- Microsoft doesn’t seem to give up with a wider push to get this kind of ‘suggestion’ for his desktop us
Windows 11 undergoes even more experimentation with ads, this time in the Settings app (again), as running users with targeted ‘suggestions’ of some kind seems to be a habit that Microsoft will not give back with when like Preferably soon.
The new ad – or ‘Recommendation’, as Microsoft may call it – is present in the latest preview -building of Windows 11 released in the DEV and Beta channels, which means it’s still just in testing for now.
It’s an ad that appears on the Settings app page targeting Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers. If that sounds familiar, it is because Microsoft started a similar ad in the test last year, though it tried to get people to sign up for Game Pass themselves.
However, it was still targeted at players we were told at the time. The difference with this fresh advertising initiative is that it is aimed at those who are already subscribing, and that is a referral ad. The idea is to “share a 14-day free trial” with up to five friends in an attempt to get them to sign up.
As with the previous ad for Game Pass, this will only appear to those signed on their PC in their Microsoft account.
In the blog post for the new Preview Build 26120, Microsoft also notes that it improves the recall function in its next release for testers. It doesn’t say how, only that: “This important update will improve your experience. As part of this upcoming update, your existing snapshots will be deleted. “
Remember is the (controversial and difficult to implement) AI-SuperCharged Search function that applies only to those who have a copilot+ PC (as it needs the beef NPU incorporated into these laptops to make sure the process is running smooth).
There is a nice extra for those who use OneDrive that Windows 11 will present a review on your PC that offers the chance to resume to work on a file that you just edited on your phone. This happens if you interacted with a file on your smartphone within the last five minutes, then you unlock your PC – a nice touch.
Analysis: Boss Drum, here we go again
I know you’re probably tired of hearing ‘Stop this with the blurred advertisement in Windows 11’ drum and I’m tired of beating it, believe me. However, Microsoft does not appear to notice and will probably argue that there is some value for its latest push. After all, you might want your friends at Game Pass as well, and offering the opportunity to take a two-week test attempt can be something your friends appreciate.
Well, fair enough I assume, but what I still want to see (and again, this is another well -worn -out drum) is the ability to turn off all these kinds of recommendations as a system -covering switch. Then those who do not want any of their screen height could be taken over by such nudges – which are in a lot of corners of Windows 11 interface – just flick this switch and enjoy a cleaner user interface all around. In the meantime, those who thought some of the recommendations were useful could keep them on.
Everyone wins, no?
In any case, I have to emphasize again that this latest game for Game Pass is just in testing at the moment, so it may not be realized. Those who are not so eager for the idea can make their feelings known through the usual feedback channels and maybe throw a vote on the system -covering ad (sorry, recommendation) Kill Switch. I can dream, I can’t?
