Back in 2006 Microsoft bought Massive Inc. a company specialising in in-game advertising for an estimated $200-400 million, but now AdWeek reports that Microsoft are preparing to close the division down after failing to off-load the division for a high six figure / low seven figure sum, it is now said the division will be closed down altogether. Massive Inc. lost important contracts when EA and others decided to take their ad-business in-house, and in-game ads were never fully integrated into Microsoft's Xbox business.
An expensive lesson for Microsoft.