A recent Sony Interactive Entertainment patent has been discovered online that, if implemented, would allow gamers to replay games via streaming from selectable ‘trigger points’ in their campaigns. For example, if you want to revisit a specific section (like a boss fight) without replaying everything else up to that point, you can jump in without playing the introduction.
As a Eurogamer reportsthe patent – officially titled “Content Streaming with Gameplay Launch” – is available to read via the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) website. Please note that it is very cumbersome, so be prepared for that if you decide to take a look. This new patent would provide a more “interactive user experience,” according to the details on the WIPO website.
It is then described what ‘trigger points’ are; these may correspond to “battles, bosses, alternate endings, alternate storylines, or quests integral to the storyline,” or even “alternate loadouts, talent or skill trees, equipment, inventory, levels, builds, and/or other player configurations.” ” The patent also suggests that trigger points can be affected by save points or checkpoints.
It is of course worth noting that just because a patent has been filed does not mean that this system will actually be implemented. In fact, the WIPO page shows that the first version of this patent was published in 2021 after an application was filed in 2019. The idea had clearly been in the pipeline for some time.
The ability to replay specific missions or moments has been around in games for quite some time, so it’s not like this concept is entirely new. That said, this patent sounds a little more refined than what we’re used to. Coincidentally, this was announced last month mission repeat coming soon Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 in a future update, although it is not yet known when it will be released.
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