PlayStation Patent Hints at Major New PS5 Feature | Game Rant
The PlayStation 5 is a new piece of hardware, and Sony is likely to tweak and update the console to enhance its user experience. Finding out what users like, and trying out different interactive elements, is part of the process with a console like the PS5. A recently filed patent seemingly looks to add in-game notes to the experience.
Patents pop up every now and then as companies look to trademark a new idea for use in its products, and want to ensure the idea isn't used by a competitor first. Some patents never see the light of day, but a good number eventually find their way into being, and they offer insight into what a company is potentially working on. One such patent looks to be a new PlayStation VR headset that will include haptic feedback. Just when this might see the light of day is anyone's guess, but there are other cases where a patent looks like something that could be implemented immediately.
One patent picked up by ScrubWiki would allow players to leave text and audio notes in-game for other users. The patent stresses that looking around for hints or tips to complete a level may be a lot of work for players, and in a game where there is not pause function, real-time information may be needed. The idea seems like it would be similar to the in-game message system found in Super Mario Maker 2, where players can leave small notes that can be toggled on and off.
This PS5 patent is described as "a method for managing user-generated game play advice" that will live "within a game space using a virtual coordinate system." Based on how it is described, it seems to be an attempt to enhance and improve the player experience, something that a number of patents seek in gaming. EA filed a patent for a quality-based matchmaking system to improve how players are grouped together in online play, for example.
The notes system could prove to be a significant help by bringing walkthrough elements to the in-game world, or it could be completely unhelpful if the "hints" offered are inaccurate or unmoderated. The success of this patent would likely come down to how it is implemented, if it ever makes it into games at all. Unlike more straightforward PS5 updates that improve performance, adding in a new feature could definitely be hit or miss.
At the very least, the idea is intended to help the player, so that make it a patent worth keeping an eye on, unlike a patent from last year that looked at how advertisements could be added to the PSVR. In-game hints are meant to increase interactivity and offer assistance, and so long as they can be toggled off, would be fairly unobtrusive if added to the PS5.
Source: ScrubWiki
Post a Comment