Microsoft UK Finds A Cheeky Way To Advertise Star Wars Battlefront On Xbox One

Microsoft UK found a loophole to kind of advertise that Star Wars Battlefront is available on Xbox One.

[Gazondaily]

Lmao- MS are desperate to get their association with this. You shouldn't have let yourselves get out-money-hatted by Sony!

Also, isn't Metro running a risk here with this?

[-Foxtrot]

I don't see why they can't just go

"Right Sony got this, we didn't...maybe next time we'll beat them on some other third party deal"

They also did it to Destiny aswell.

I don't think I've seen Sony do something like this when Microsoft have third party exclusive advertising for a game.

Never saw Sony try to wiggle their way in when Microsoft had exclusive advertising rights or deals for past Call of Duty titles, GTA4, Fallout or hell even with the new Tomb Raider game, something to say "we don't have it on our console...yet".

[Gazondaily]

Yeah but Sony are in a far more dominant position. Destiny and Star Wars are big franchises and they need the sales

[nix]

These guerrilla ad placements are always cute.

[divinealpha]

Lol as much as you want that uhhhh no, at the end of the day it's a business they will try any means necessary to get something out of these , do you think it's all friend ship no , it's a company man

[-Foxtrot]

@Mixdup

With how vocal I am on mostly anything regardless of "sides" do you really think me, of all people, wouldn't say the same thing if it was Sony or even Nintendo...course I would.

Oh and ISIS...REALLY? After just what happened in Paris and you are trying to compare people who don't share your opinion to ISIS or even people who you don't agree with.

Jesus Christ man. We're a gaming community, the reason most of us hide in this hobby is to escape the depressing problems the world is facing.

[uptownsoul]

I find it very interesting that Microsoft feels the need to do these types of "loophole" advertisements while Sony sees no need to do the same.

I mean we've seen when Microsoft has the exclusive marketing rights to multiplat games (Witcher 3, Madden, Fifa, Fallout, Rainbow Six, etc) I NEVER see Sony using the "loophole" marketing thing...interesting

I think it says a lot when 1 company feels the need to use loopholes, while the other company can compete straight up

[-Foxtrot]

@uptownsoul

My point

Even when the 360 was doing so well and the PS3 for a short period was just getting ready to catch up

[Mr Pumblechook]

Here in the UK I saw a lot of FIFA Football and Fallout 4 ads for Xbox One. But not one dirty trick from Sony. That says everything you need to know.

[Jayszen]

They can't let it go because Microsoft is arrogant enough to think that it is okay to behave in such a manner. Lack of class and cheap to the hilt!

They failed to get the marketing rights for whatever reason (probably blew the budget on paying for the 'Rise of the Tomb Raider' timed exclsusivity)yet they cannot just accept it and resort to such underhand tactics. Sony should object to this bullshit or at the very least demand some money back from EA until one realizes that EA and Microsoft are thick as thieves.

[ocelot07]

I have noticed a FIFA advert here in the UK. Just shows some FIFA gameplay then at the end says get FIFA + PS4 from Amazon.

Microsoft have the ad rights to FIFA this year. So am not sure if that was a Sony thing or a Amazon thing or maybe even both. But I agree it does come off a bit desperate on Microsoft's part.

[G20WLY]

I knew when I saw the title that it would have been in Metro...

If it had have been in any other publication, I could have rolled my eyes, smirked and moved on. Metro is so anti-Sony it's ridiculous. Their reviews are worthless.

Whoever gets to agree this sort of thing at Metro must have jumped at the chance - hell, they may have even tipped MS off that the space was available next to that article. How else would MS have had the opportunity?

Anyway, tinfoil hat off and rant over, I just had to vent this lol!

[JackBNimble]

I hope someone gets in trouble for this. You bet your ass MS would shit a brick if Sony pulled this kind of BS.

[DOMination-]

Seriously who cares. Its quite funny actually

[ScaReCrow90]

Well thats only maybe because theyre not clever enough.

[lvl_headed_gmr]

Why does MS need to money hat 3rd party for millions when they can spend just a few hundred doing their own marketing for the same game?

Sony needs 3rd party support right now cause it's cheaper then making exclusives...just like MS last gen....remember how everyone complained...well now people are complaining about Sony's lack of 1st party titles.

MS have plenty of money, this gen it's just cheaper for MS to do their own 3rd party advertising and focus on 1st party then 3rd party.

[TheCommentator]

So it's okay for one side to pay for advertizing rights, but desperate for the other side to find a way to still advertise it for free? LOL.

Sounds just as desperate of either side to me since the only real winner here is EA, who didn't have as much advertizing costs as a result of all of this nonsense. TBH, companies like EA and Activision shouldn't need any financial backing anyways, especially with games like SW:BF and Destiny both being such obvious cash-grabs.

[lameguy]

Advertising 'exclusive' deals are just as horrible if not more so than product exclusives and anything that undermines them (on either side) is welcome.

That said, that money there should really have been spent advertising Tomb Raider...

[Bansai]

Did you forget about that "this is how you exchange a game on PS4?" - pretty low.

However it's normal in this industry.

[BeefCurtains]

Quick, put on your tinfoil hats!!!

Because I'm sure MS watches every single newspaper and knows exactly where every advertisement for a game will be in all publications before release. And they do this so that in the event of a game that is being advertised by Sony, Microsoft can jump in and place an ad!

Do you have any idea how hard/impossible it would be to coordinate something like that? Give me a break.

The conspiracy theories are real thick on this website.

[tuglu_pati]

@Foxtrot @uptownsoul

"I find it very interesting that Microsoft feels the need to do these types of "loophole" advertisements while Sony sees no need to do the same. "

Different companies from different parts of the world with different strategy plans.

The truth is MS is in a weak position right now with PS4 almost selling three times of what the XBO is selling, so it's expected to see this kind of strategy from MS. Like Fox said, Even when the 360 was doing so well they would do this, so like i said its expected.

@BeefCurtains

this was obviously orchestrated, no doubt about that.

@JackBNimble

"I hope someone gets in trouble for this."

oh boy... someone needs to get out more often. Are you really that offended that you wish someone gets in trouble, come on now... Go out makes some friends.

[BeefCurtains]

@Tuglu:
Yeah, MS knows every ad Sony will put out before it happens. If someone orchestrated this, It's way more likely that the publisher/editor orchestrated it, because MS doesn't have control over exactly which page to advertise exactly which advertisement. MS would have had to have advanced knowledge of what page Sony was advertising, just so they could buy space on the page right next to it. But then they first had to make sure the Sony ad was on the left page, so MS could have the right page. You do realize how meticulously thought out, and how far in advance, publishers do these things, right? You can't just call up the NY Times and post whatever you want wherever you want it, LOL

I find it ironic that your post to someone else was "you should get out more often"...

[JasonKCK]

Foxtrot Sony does the same thing.

[NewMonday]

@Septic
advertisers can request specific pages, it's normal

the exclusivity deal is between Sony and Actvision, MS can be as creative as can be as long as they don't the words "Star Wars" or promote images from the game.

[tuglu_pati]

@BeefCurtains

First of all the left side its not a PS4 ad its just a review from the newsletter.

"On the left hand side of the page, you can see there is a review article for Star Wars Battlefront. On the right side, there is a big “Available On Xbox One” sign."

Second, I dont know where you are getting your info, but you can definitely get an ad up last minute, just need the right amount of cash. You even admitted it was orchestrated.

"It's way more likely that the publisher/editor orchestrated it"

I never said it was MS, you assumed that for some reason. So make up your mind.

Third, I don't see where is the irony with what i said, If you feel you are doing the right thing defending someone who wishes bad things to happen to other people just because of a newspaper ad then I don't know what to tell you either.

[bf000777966]

"play it at 720p and with drop frams exclusively on xbox one."

[spicelicka]

lol like it cost them a billion dollars to post a little ad on a newspaper.

I find this a lot more clever than trying to "out-money" on a game that's not worth advertising anyway.

[Christopher]

***on a game that's not worth advertising anyway***

Wait... what? Then why even waste time on so much "advertising that isn't advertising" on the game if it's not worth advertising?

Contradict much?

Also, I like how people act like this is just this one ad. MS is surely doing this in other areas and are putting a lot of effort into advertising the game, which has been shown in the last two weeks. It may not be tons of money, but it surely is people and time.

[3-4-5]

It's not desperate it's creative...a little outside the box.

You actually want them to be like " yea we lost " ?

Would you ask the same of Sony ? Of course YOU wouldn't.

[BlackTar187]

well we don't see sony doing this for what the 3rd or 4th time?

It was clever with Destiny now it is borderline sad.

No one says they need to say "Yea we Lost" to jump to such a far island with that is hilarious. I don't even care that they look a bit sad and begging for attn. it's a business tactic but lets be honest the continuance of them doing it is what makes it look sad and desperate. Keep doing it i don't really care and im sure no one really does(Maybe Sony) but if asked what it looks like from the outside it's desperation it's the littel brother ME TOO ME TOO desperation.

[GamingIVfun]

Never seen Sony do this kind of thing when Microsoft/Xbox has an exclusive deal. Makes them look bad, when Microsoft makes those deals for a reason but can't honor them when the competition has the deal.

[GamingIVfun]

The comments bellow just make Xbox Fans look stupid.

[starrman1985]

Damn them for trying to increase profits, they should fire their sales team for trying to do these stunts!

[showtimefolks]

i don't know but maybe ms should focus some advertisement funds on halo 5 and tomb raider. it feels like halo 5 has been lost in COD,Star wars and fallout hype

and tomb raider is just our there you know ms be like it's out go get it and let others know it's out

both games are excellent especially tomb raider, it should get a huge advertisement push

also something interesting

the firm that use to advertise for xbox is now working for sony lol

[I-Hate-usernames]

I know i will get a lot of disagrees but i think this is kinda pathetic really

[Bennibop]

I agree Microsoft should just concentrate on advertising Tomb raider properly, have seen very little in the UK (little wonder the sales are so poor)

[lvl_headed_gmr]

I day's worth of sales at retail in the UK...and you think its poor sales.

The internet is so funny.

[Magnes]

@Bennibop the trick is people actually think Ms bought timed exclusivity of RotTR because "they care so much for the franchise". Ms doesn't care about Tomb Raider they care about reducing games available on ps4 this holiday that's it this is proven by their lackluster promoting of RotTR.

[BeefCurtains]

If that's all they cared about, how does Sony have rights to Star Wars? Too much flaw in your logic. But look at those Sony fanboy agrees you got... Hilarious.

[Magnes]

@beef talk about flawed logic you didn't even explain how Microsoft cares about TR you just jumped on sony fans

[AizenSosuke]

Sadly I am an fan of Xbox and MS but this is still shady to me too.

[Kratos1981]

Nothing wrong with it, it's just a bit unethical. Still, it's just a marketing tactic.

[Eterna1Ice]

Too bad it sucks.

[Ko_Uraki]

I love creativity. :))

[ChronicPsycho]

Such genius, much wow.
Maybe come up with something that's actually good next time MS.

@below

Considering they don't have any good games in their first party lineup, so I can understand why they are bent on trying to associate with BF.

[Flashback001]

Yes they need to advertise good games at least. Not something like this...

[Kingdomcome247]

Man, change your name to ChronicTroll.

[Flashback001]

Please MS don't waste money on this cr*p... This game is just mediocre with no content. A big let down...

[RiseofScorpio]

Remember the Destiny fragrance? N4G got owned that day wow.

[DanzoSAMA]

so what ?

[Malacath]

These advertising deals are just stupid.

If I owned a publishing studio and had a game coming out for multiple platforms I would want it advertised for all.

[IIFloodyII]

Advertising Is expensive, usually more than the actual development is, so if a platform holder comes in and covers some of the cost (how much probably depends on how much stuff they get cut from the other versions), it's hard to say no, sucks for consumers, but makes a lot of sense for the publishers.

[iceman06]

Sure you would. But, you would also target what you think is your biggest demographic to try to ensure that your sales are secure and then hope for market penetration to secure the rest of your sales. You have to remember, the mass market (especially parents shopping for kids) doesn't really pay attention as closely as we do. They aren't aware of exclusivity deals. All they see is Game X is available on System A and they buy it there.

[Jayszen]

Wow, so much for supporting 'Rise of the Tomb Raider'! Microsoft would rather spend money on TRYING to advertise for a game it does not have marketing rights and yet hardly advertise a game which Phil Spencer ("Big-Phil") claimed to love and cherish and for which they paid a lot of money to withold it from the best selling console for a year. It is languishing mid-chart having sold poorly and way less than expected in the first fortnight. A one page ad like the one for 'Battlefront' would help ROTR right now in the UK.

[WeaseL]

Shocked! No, this is just the usual underhanded thing MS is associated with.

[Sm00thNinja]

Wow this industry is a business please understand that N4G

[Christopher]

Wow regardless of it being an industry some people still don't like these sort of business tactics and some people don't care please understand that N4G.

[iceman06]

There are different ways to conduct business. EA is a business, but N4G is up in arms about it's DLC policy on Battlefront. Should we just understand that? There is room for understanding that a business needs to make money and yet also room for criticizing how they go about making their money. Personally, I don't really care. But, I can see how some might see this as slightly unethical or at very least a bit low.

[Skankinruby]

It's pathetic, I don't remember Sony ever doing this. Just childish unprofessional nonsense because they can't get their way.

[The93Sting]

what?

[kstuffs]

No Sony ads go showing multiplat games then show a few games that are exclusive to Sony and then ending it with Exclusive on PS4. Yah.... trying to trick people into think the multiplat games are exclusive.

[sonyboy2]

lol nice move

[SynestheticRoar]

WOW. If only the xbox one was as good as Microsoft PR. I would have purchase one by now.

[GoodnessGreatness]

I didn't see Sony advertising colognes and shit when Microsoft had the marketing rights and deals last gen. Microsoft is just desperate and needs to fuck off at times lol.

[FoxyGotGame]

Microsoft have the best Exclusives in Crass this year ...

Truly embarrassingly Desperate ....what a sad ass co. /

[Ra3030]

What's funny about all these "look at me ads" Microsoft puts out on games they don't have or no longer have ad rights to is that they spend more money on ads now than when they had the ad rights.

[Zcarnut]

Uhh..Are you implying that this print ad cost as much or more than what Sony paid for the "illusion" that this game is a exclusive?.

[Ra3030]

Well yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. also why does this upset you so and clearly your upset by the Sony ads? Sony is doing exactly what Microsoft did last gen nothing different at all. Hell Microsoft is using the same tactic this gen....but I'm sure you have no problem overlooking......Rise of The Tomb Raider "exclusively on Xbox One".

[Zcarnut]

I'm not upset at all. Just want to point out you are laughably wrong.A MS print ad like this is far cheaper. Its also less effective than all the advertising Sony has done with the game, but thats another topic.
The Tomb Raider discussion is apples and oranges to this. Know why? Because at the moment, you CAN NOT play it anywhere else. Does this news.....upset you?

[lastking95]

Lol now this is funny. Did you see the "greatness waits for no one" on the site?

[djplonker]

Typical microsoft feeding from the scraps...

[JohnCG7380]

You gotta do what you gotta do.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

I like seeing these companies getting clever around their advertisements. Nothing wrong with it...just being smart.

[FN4GM]

More like cheesy, pathetic and quite honestly a little sad.

[dinosaurcrossbow]

I guess thats microsoft for you. Up to their hold tricks despite Phil Spencer being in charge.

[MellauxGMNG]

If it was sony that did this I bet this comment section would be filled with praises.

"haha nice one sony" "genious idea sony" "wp"

[iceman06]

Not really, because there would be plenty of Xbox fans to complain. It is what it is. That's the nature of this site. Ever evolving. Always picking sides. The sides just change depending on the popularity of the consoles or games that articles are about.

[WelkinCole]

Firs time was funny. Second time it gets stale. 3rd time is desperation.

Desperado why don't you come to your senses?.

[Rattlehead20]

Are people really criticising this?

I think you may all be too young to understand business and the power of good marketing.

This is quite clever marketing admittedly.