In-game Ads in Blizzard's Next MMO?

Job posting reveals details for its "next-gen MMO."

January 23, 2012

 Very little is known about Blizzard's in-development "next-gen MMO" currently being referred to as Titan, though a recent job posting reveals an interesting piece of information. The position of Franchise Development Producer includes the following responsibility:

"Work with major consumer brands to facilitate product placement and licensing within the world of Blizzard Entertainment's next-gen MMO that enhances the gameplay experience."

There's little room for misinterpretation there; Blizzard is looking to weave in-game ads into Titan. But how do you incorporate in-game ads that "[enhance] the gameplay experience"? Most importantly, it would mean bringing in advertisements that somehow made sense within the game world. For example, it would make sense to see a Coca-Cola ad in something like Battlefield because it's set in the real world. It'd still be irritating, but it'd at least make sense. It would make absolutely no sense to see a Coca-Cola ad in Diablo III.

Titan is meant to be a new fictional world disconnected from Blizzard's past work. It could be that Titan is set in the real world, though knowing Blizzard, there'd have to been some sort of fantasy spin.

Whether or not that means advertisements will actually make it into the game is another thing entirely. Blizzard has a habit of scrapping ideas if they don't work out, even if plenty of hours and dollars have been poured into their development. Remember StarCraft: Ghost? Or Diablo III's Mystic?