Ads are getting ridiculous in Microsoft Games, making folks stop playing altogether

When Microsoft first introduced ads in games, it was usually 1-2 during the entire gameplay. And, we, as players, were alright with it. It’s a free game, and Microsoft could push an ad or two, as long as it doesn’t affect the experience!

But that’s not the case anymore!

Microsoft is now incessantly pushing ads, and it has come to a point where many are considering stopping playing altogether. No one wants to see 5-12 30-second ads at a stretch before being able to play.

Sadly, this is the present situation across games, be it Solitaire, Sudoku, or other Microsoft titles!

The number of complaints to Microsoft has been rising by the day. Some have even reported it in the Feedback Hub. A user recently wrote in the Microsoft Community,

I have played Microsoft Solitaire for well over 20 years, patiently waiting through the ads once they became part of the game. But in the last few months I have had periods (like tonight) where the program will give me 5 or 6 ads in a row, without a single game. I know when this is going to happen because, at the end of the ad, the cursor stays as an arrow, and does not change to a hand. When you click the X with the cursor arrow, it takes you back to the screen where you say if you want to play again or not, and when you click yes it takes you to another ad. Over and over and over. I am to the point that I am ready to quit the game all together. Certainly, with all of the years of experience in programming that Microsoft has, they’re better than this.

Another user echoed similar sentiments in a post on the Microsoft community,

What’s with the recent greatly increased frequency of ads in Microsoft Solitaire? If it’s a marketing strategy, it’s a fail as I will no longer play these games, preferring to play one of the many online versions that keep their ads unintrusive and under control. My most recent experience was three 30 second ads that played before I got to the game – ridiculous!

A disgruntled user reported that switching to another app and returning to the game also triggers an ad.

Even when I close the app and go back in, or switch to another game and return to Spider Solitaire, the ads just keep coming. GRRRRRRRR

The issue has been going on for a few weeks, and there has been no official acknowledgment from Microsoft.

So, right now, these ads aren’t going anywhere on their own. But you could use a few workarounds to get rid of ads or reduce their frequency!

How can I stop ads in Microsoft Games?

• Power cycle your router: Simply power off the router, wait for 2-5 minutes and then turn it back on.
• Clear the browser cache and cookies: Make sure to clear the browsing data both for the default browser and Microsoft Edge.
• Change the DNS server in Windows: When switching, go with Google’s public DNS for the best connectivity and to eliminate any possible conflicts.
• Subscribe to the Premium version of the game: If nothing works, you can subscribe to the game’s premium ad-free edition. For Solitaire, it’s $1.99/month or $14.99/year, and for Sudoku, it’s $1.49/month or $9.99/year.

In an ideal world, you shouldn’t have to do anything. It’s Microsoft’s responsibility to push an optimal number and not incessantly bombard users with ads!

Besides, if you are seeing too many pop-ups on the PC, it could be a misconfigured setting, fixing which shouldn’t take more than a few minutes.

If you feel that Microsoft has increased ads in games, share your experience in the comments section.