Sony continues its pursuit of innovative gaming enhancements with two new patent applications for an AI-powered assistant designed to interact with players during gameplay.

These patents represent the latest in a series of innovative concepts from Sony, ranging from quality-of-life improvements to AI-driven features.  Previous patents include an AI autoplay feature to bypass challenging sections and a robot that mirrors in-game character movements.

A recently published patent details Sony's work on a robot that could physically mimic the actions of video game characters, adding a new dimension to the gaming experience.

One of the new patents describes a "conversational digital assistant."  This AI would respond to player queries, such as button mapping or enemy proximity warnings.  Responses could be delivered verbally, through audio cues, on-screen text, or even tactile feedback, offering potential accessibility benefits and difficulty adjustments.

The other patent outlines a "virtual assistant for game discovery." This AI utilizes machine learning to emulate the communication style of iconic PlayStation characters, providing in-game guidance.  The patent application illustrates a scenario where a player in Horizon Zero Dawn receives advice from a virtual Kratos on defeating a specific enemy.

These two patents could work synergistically to provide seamless, non-intrusive assistance to players.

While many of Sony's patented gaming technologies haven't yet materialized, some have foreshadowed future developments. A 2015 patent for a portable gaming device, for example, bore a striking resemblance to the 2023 PlayStation Portal.  Sony's continuous exploration of innovative ways to improve player experience offers promising prospects for the future of gaming.