Summary

  • Sony has filed a patent for a system that analyzes a player's gameplay style and recommends other games based on their preferences, similar to streaming services like Netflix.
  • The patent aims to make it easier for players to discover new games in their preferred genre or playstyle, helping them find titles they might enjoy but may have overlooked.
  • These efforts are part of Sony's goal to provide a more personalized gaming experience, where players can be shown new titles based on their previous gameplay methods and preferences.

Everyone plays video games differently, and Sony has just filed a patent for a system to classify users' playstyles and pick out titles that suit them. The video game medium offers a variety of different experiences, from first-person shooters like Call of Duty to epic JRPGs like Final Fantasy 16. With so many different genres and new titles being released all the time, it can be easy to overlook games that fans of a particular playstyle might enjoy.

Sony’s newest patent aims to change that. In the past few years, Sony has filed documents detailing a wide range of concepts to help make gaming more immersive and accessible to everyone - such as a “Smell-O-Vision”-like system to simulate in-game odors or the PlayStation 5’s new accessibility-focused Access Controller. Some of Sony’s more gameplay-centric patents have included an “Inventory Management Coach” to help gamers sort out weapons and equipment in titles like God of War Ragnarok and a virtual “dojo” for players to practice their skills in any gameplay genre.

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Sony Files Patent for New MMO Server Tech

A new patent application from Sony suggests the company may be developing advanced MMO server technology, possibly indicating a move into that genre.

The latest patent to come from Sony could help finding new games in a particular genre easier. This patent details a system that would analyze how a player approaches a certain game and make recommendations for other titles based on their playstyle - not unlike the recommendations systems of streaming services like Netflix. For example, a player that prefers melee combat and exploration in Action RPGs could be pointed toward Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim. A diagram of the player’s gameplay preferences would be shown, with certain aspects compared to gameplay elements in the recommended game.

A pair of concept images for Sony's new patient that recommends games based on a player's playstyle.
A pair of concept images for Sony's new patient that recommends games based on a player's playstyle.

Back in May, Sony filed a similar patent for a “roulette system” that would study a player’s preferred genre of games and make recommendations based on their habits. Another would use AI to select music for players to listen to while gaming. Yet another would sort players into skill-based “houses” that pair more seasoned gamers against each other in multiplayer tournaments.

These patents are all part of Sony’s efforts to give players a more personalized gaming experience where they can be shown new titles based on their methods in a previous game. With Sony constantly releasing new first-party titles like Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and games like The Callisto Protocol being added to PlayStation Plus regularly, having recommendations like this could be a boon for gamers who enjoy one particular genre or playstyle.

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