Xbox users reportedly frustrated by mobile game ads on console dashboard
A Reddit post on r/xbox is making the rounds after someone spotted a Call of Duty: Mobile ad on the Xbox Series dashboard, a game you can’t actually play on the console. Understandably, people aren’t thrilled.
The original post by Reddit user u/Critical_Term_1013, titled “Putting an ad for a game that's not available on Xbox is beyond my understanding,” has received over 2,600 upvotes and hundreds of comments. u/WolfOfLOLStreet questioned, “What's the logic in your gaming device advertising a game not playable on that same device?”
Meanwhile, u/IronMonkey18 sarcastically echoed Blizzard’s infamous quote, “Do you guys not have phones?”, and u/Bunta_Fujiwara reminded others that this isn’t the first time Microsoft has put controversial ads on its platform: “Do you guys not remember Xbox 360 metro in around 2011?,” referring to the now-infamous 2011 Fall Dashboard Update.
That update introduced Microsoft’s Metro UI to Xbox 360 and was heavily criticized for replacing the classic blade interface with a tile-based layout that prominently featured third-party advertisements, ranging from snacks to movie promotions.
Even back then, people weren’t thrilled, many felt like paying customers were being treated as ad impressions. One Reddit thread from 14 years ago even detailed how to block Xbox dashboard ads by rerouting DNS settings and blacklisting Microsoft’s ad servers using OpenDNS or router-level controls.
Building on that, u/Jakeasuno chimed in to say that today’s complaints miss the bigger picture: “people complaining about the ads on the current dashboard clearly haven't experienced the worst.” Meanwhile, u/Zeppelin041 admitted that mobile gaming is huge globally, but still doesn’t think that makes it okay to push phone-only titles on a $500 console.
Microsoft owns Activision Blizzard, the publisher behind Call of Duty: Mobile, making this placement part of a broader cross‑platform promotion strategy. Still, many Xbox players argue that ad placements should remain relevant to the console experience, especially on a device that now costs upwards of $599.99, after a recent $100 price increase from its original $499.99 MSRP .
Reportedly, many Xbox users have long grumbled about ads baked into the dashboard—especially when, as per fans, Sony and Nintendo continue to offer cleaner, ad-free home screens.
In a slightly older post, a user called the full-screen Starfield boot-up ad 'awful' and questioned why paid hardware is pushing promos. Another thread pointed to Microsoft experimenting with ad formats through the Xbox Insider Program, think dashboard tiles and reward-based promos baked right into the home screen.
At the time of writing, Microsoft has not commented on the placement or strategy behind the ad. Whether the backlash changes anything remains to be seen.
Some users responded to the outrage with dry humour. u/greenyquinn, for instance, offered a sarcastic counterpoint: “Microsoft published games that I can play with my Microsoft account being advertised on a Microsoft device. Who does this even appeal to?” He added, “Now if it was MTN DEW Code Red, that would be an appropriate ad. Literally every human needs to consume beverages to survive.”
The comment adds another perspective to the discussion, reflecting how not all users see the ad placement in the same light. However, what could be fueling the anger is the broader context: Microsoft recently raised prices for the Xbox Series X, increased the cost of first-party accessories, and announced $80 pricing for some upcoming games. In that light, the dashboard ad isn’t necessarily the core issue, it seems to be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.
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