- Sony has published a new patent to detect real-time player outbursts while gaming to improve gameplay.
- The system will detect the players’ in-game location and offer advice after they suffer repeated failures.
- If advice is insufficient due to accessibility issues or bugs, Sony might adjust gameplay dynamically to help.
Many giants in the gaming industry are in a rush to appeal to a wider audience. So, initiatives to improve accessibility and other convenient features in gaming have been underway in the last decade. Sony is arguably at the top in innovating with unique and wild ideas, with most first appearing as obscure patent documents. The latest one might just catch your eye, however.
We’ve tripped over a new Sony patent for providing players with a real-time, location-based feedback system that detects emotional player outbursts before providing aid.
The system might advise you after detecting erratic button mashing, verbal outbursts, or repeated failures at specific parts of a game. It might also adjust gameplay in real time if advice is not helping because of accessibility issues or bugs, such as nerfing enemies’ health or their amount.
If the player indicates latency between controller input and arrow release, the feedback module may determine that there is a network latency issue and may adjust the game accordingly, e.g., by slowing down the reactions of the enemy
Why it matters: Sony providing real-time location-based player feedback could be a good addition for players who struggle at specific parts of a game. Actively adjusting gameplay is also a plus.
The patent dubbed ‘METHOD FOR LOCATION BASED PLAYER FEEDBACK TO IMPROVE GAMES‘ also argues that the interactions of many players after a game launches are a potentially vast yet untapped source of player feedback.
Generally, feedback for a title is received during pre-release testing, which is often insufficient. Developers being able to improve games in real-time after collecting feedback would cut the need for post-launch hotfixes.
It is currently difficult for video game publishers to dynamically adjust games at scale based on real-time signals from players after initial publishing. Game testing prior to launch provides limited feedback on how players actually interact with the game.
All in all, Sony will likely implement this location-based player feedback system in games to collect feedback, provide assistance, and alter gameplay for players who struggle at a certain spot and exhibit anger.
Sony has also secured many other innovative patents over the years, such as using AI accounts to impersonate gamers for catching malicious players, and another one about an advanced system to automatically adjust game FPS, brightness, and other details based on real-life factors.
Do you think recording the in-game location of players to detect their experience will help Sony improve gameplay, or will this patent also go to waste? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or join the discussion on the official Tech4Gamers forum.
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Shameer Sarfaraz has previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, he loves to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games. Besides his passion for breaking news stories, Shahmeer loves spending his leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited his articles.
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