Highlights
- Sony is developing a software program to convert gameplay sequences into mini-games.
- The program uses a cloud system to convert recorded gameplay into playable sequences.
- The patent reveals a potential mini-game generator with over a decade of development, but no guarantee of release.
According to a recently published patent, Sony is developing a software program that would allow players to capture gameplay sequences and convert them into playable mini-games. Sony has filed a slew of hardware and software patents in recent months, and this latest publication gives further insights into the technology giant's research and development efforts.
Many of the recent Sony patent filings have focused on accessibility programs and hardware improvements, hinting at the company's internal goals for the future of gaming. A number of big names in the technology and video game industries continue to file promising patents, keeping both shareholders and consumers interested in the evolution of gaming tech.
New Sony Patent May Further Hint at PS3 Backwards Compatibility on PS5
A recently discovered patent filed by Sony potentially adds further fuel to the rumors about PS3 backwards compatibility coming to PS5.
Published June 27, 2024, a Sony patent details a software program that uses a cloud system to convert recorded gameplay sequences into mini-games. The system relies on players recording and uploading their gameplay to this cloud system, which then converts the available data into a playable sequence. Surprisingly, this patent is just one of a family of documents, the first of which dates back to February 2013. This may suggest that Sony had originally been working on this technology with the PlayStation 4 console in mind. Further documentation shows updated filings in 2019 and 2020, perhaps indicating updates to the system for compatibility with the launch of the PS5. With over a decade of development on this program, it remains to be seen if this mini-game generator will finally be released for current-gen consoles or if Sony will continue to keep it on the back burner.
Sony Mini-Game Generator Patent Details
Looking at Figure 3B of the Sony mini-game generator patent, fans can get an idea of how this software could be implemented. Figure 3B depicts a brief motorbike sequence which has been converted into a mini-game out of a larger section of a full game. Users would be able to play this shortened segment and compete for high scores, thus utilizing a brief section of a larger game to create a playable mini-game. Other possibilities include portions of FPS games turned into shooting gallery mini-games or 3D platforming video game segments being converted into time trials. Fans of a particular mission in a game would be able to turn that portion into a mini-game, allowing them to replay their favorite gameplay sections over and over again. While this mini-game generator seems promising, there is currently no guarantee that Sony will ever make it available to users.
Patents continue to be a great source of insight for audiences interested in the technology developments at Sony and other powerhouse companies. It is key to remember that companies frequently file patents that never see the light of day. Even with continued updates to the filings for this software over the years, fans will want to wait for an official announcement from Sony before reading too far into these patent publications.
Sony
- Date Founded
- May 7, 1946
- Headquarters
- Minato City, Tokyo, Japan
- Subsidiaries
- Sony Pictures , Sony Interactive Entertainment , Sony Imagesoft , Sony Online Entertainment
- Known For
- PlayStation
