FIFA games are pretty mainstream and have had them since the 90s sometime. I think the first one I played was 97 and it definitely had real ads in it.

Real ads but not ads that are loaded from the internet.

Does that really change the impact a lot? Besides, at least internet-loaded ads can be blocked easier than modding out ad assets from a game.

Caused problems with one of the Wipeouts in 2009[1] and that was just on the loading screens.

[1] https://www.engadget.com/2009-11-19-wipeout-hd-in-game-ads-r...

An ad for pan-am or the bell telephone company in 2023 would change the impact a lot.

it changes from a static object that can be vetted for fit and finish within the game world to a dynamic object chosen at the behest of a third party that can now optionally transmit malware.

yeah it changes the impact.

I recall that Shogo, which was released in 1998, had billboards advertising the real world products.

Never knew this, shit's hilarious, imagine having a political ad inside a singleplayer game!