Sony's Patent Could Revolutionize the Way We Experience Gaming?
Sony has registered a patent that is expected to revolutionize the way we experience video games. At least in theory, since the solution behind it has long existed in various forms.
At the beginning of November, PatentScope.wipo.int revealed the news that in July 2023, Sony Interactive Entertainment has registered a patent called Content Streaming With Gameplay Launch. What is it all about?
- The solution behind this patent is supposed to make it possible to instantly return to any moment of the story campaign.
- It can be accessed without having to go through the entire game from the beginning or even its specific stage - we will go straight to the sequence that interests us.
- This will be made possible by a number of plot points to which we will be able to return on demand.
According to Sony, this solution will be much more attractive for players than watching gameplays online. Why? If only because we will get the opportunity to make different decisions than the first time. This will enable us to check out different plot ramifications on our own, without having to go through a particular game or stage from the beginning.
Although at first glance this patent seems extremely interesting, it is worth considering that it is actually nothing new. Many games - especially those focused strictly on the story - enable you to replay particular parts of the story by default. We can mention such titles as Detroit: Become Human, Until Dawn or As Dusk Falls.
However, the opportunity to face already defeated bosses in a game like Elden Ring without having to start the entire adventure all over again, would certainly be something that fans would welcome with open arms. The solution to this problem, however, has in a way already been implemented in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice or even in Hollow Knight, which offer a boss rush mode woven into the storyline.
In addition, it can be stated that the patent, as it were, has long existed in the form of unlimited manual "saves". In this case, however, there is the issue of knowledge of the plot - in order to save the game before an important event, we need to know about it.
Thus, the patent filed by Sony may not seem very original. Nevertheless, if it were popularized, many players would certainly use it often. Especially if the solution became native and replaced all those I mentioned above.
