According to IGN, Sony has filed a patent for a new AI-driven gaming assistant system. The technology, detailed in a patent that could surface in future hardware like a hypothetical PlayStation 6, would have two main functions. One is creating “ghost” characters that demonstrate how to beat a challenging section. The other, more radical feature would allow the game to essentially play itself, achieving objectives autonomously. This AI would be trained by absorbing vast amounts of YouTube gameplay footage and harvesting anonymized player data from the PlayStation Network. For now, it’s just a patent with no guaranteed release, but it points to a significant shift in how Sony is thinking about artificial intelligence in its ecosystem.
How It Works And Why It’s Weird
So, let’s break this down. The core idea here is machine learning on a massive, almost creepy scale. Think about every “Let’s Play,” speedrun, and tutorial video on YouTube. Now imagine an AI ingesting all of it, learning the optimal paths, strategies, and button presses for any given game. Combine that with aggregated, anonymous data from millions of PSN players—where they die, what choices they make, how long they take—and you’ve got a system that doesn’t just know the game’s code, it knows how humans play it. That’s how it could generate a “ghost” to show you the way or, in its most extreme form, just handle the controller for you.
Is This Even Gaming Anymore?
Here’s the big question: what’s the point? I get the assist function. Struggling with a brutal boss in Elden Ring? A ghost showing a perfect dodge pattern could be a modern, dynamic strategy guide. That’s arguably helpful. But the auto-play feature? It feels like a solution in search of a problem. If the game can beat itself, what are you there for? The joy of gaming is in the struggle, the learning, the personal accomplishment. Outsourcing that to an AI seems to fundamentally misunderstand the hobby. Is it for people who just want to see a story unfold? Maybe. But then, why not just watch a movie?
And look, the business angle is obvious. This could be a major accessibility tool, helping players with disabilities experience games they couldn’t otherwise. It could also function as an ultra-aggressive hint system to prevent people from giving up and quitting a game entirely. But the potential for abuse is staring us in the face. Imagine “engagement-optimized” games that use this tech to subtly guide—or force—you down certain monetization paths. The patent itself is neutral, but its application depends entirely on the hands it’s in.
Patents Vs. Reality
Now, we have to remember this is just a patent. Tech companies patent wild stuff all the time as a defensive move or to explore conceptual territory. It might never see the light of day. But the fact that Sony’s R&D is thinking in this direction is telling. It shows the industry’s obsession with data harvesting and AI isn’t slowing down; it’s expanding from matchmaking and recommendations into the core gameplay loop itself. Basically, they’re asking if AI can not only watch you play but play for you. That’s a philosophical can of worms as much as a technical one.
So, would you use it? A little help now and then, sure. But letting the game play itself? I don’t know. It seems like we’re inching toward a future where the product isn’t the game, but the data it produces to train the next AI. And that’s a game I’m not sure I want to buy into.
