With the recent reveal of one of its patents, Sony seems to be gearing up to introduce a new AI-powered addition to its gaming-focused lineup.
While AI has become increasingly prevalent in the tech world,
gaming companies like Sony are just starting to dip their toes into its potential for enhancing gaming experiences.
Despite AI’s widespread attention since 2022, don’t expect Sony to unveil its first foray into this technology anytime soon. Just look at how long it took for Sony to roll out the PlayStation Portal with Remote Play, nearly two decades after its initial introduction during the PlayStation 3 era.
Where AI Fits into PlayStation Gaming ?
According to the recently disclosed patent, Sony’s potential AI-powered product would likely serve a specific, targeted purpose. Based on the patent, Sony aims to use AI to create a “helper” that enhances the PlayStation VR experience by smoothing out interruptions between play sessions.
This hardware would leverage AI to assist players when they go AFK,
track their AFK time, and guide them back into the game when they return.
The exact functionality of this potential PS VR accessory remains unclear. However, judging from the patent description, it seems Sony plans to use the helper to automatically pause VR games during interruptions or guide players to safe zones to prevent them from encountering a game over screen when they resume playing.
As Sony’s initial venture into integrating AI into the PlayStation experience at a hardware level, it’s unlikely the company will reinvent the wheel. Instead, this move could signal Sony’s commitment to bolstering its virtual reality offerings. Nonetheless, the fate of this AI-powered “helper” hitting the market is uncertain. With VR game sales lagging across the industry, Sony may wait for a significant surge in VR popularity before moving forward with this patent.
In summary, while Sony’s exploration of AI for PlayStation gaming is intriguing, it remains to be seen whether this potential accessory will become a reality.