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Sony Interactive Entertainment has secured a patent for an artificial intelligence system that could enable PlayStation games to progress automatically when players encounter difficulties.
The technology, dubbed Ghost Player, involves summoning an AI-controlled duplicate of the player’s character to demonstrate or execute solutions for challenging sections of gameplay. According to the patent filing, this ghost could guide users through puzzles or handle entire segments on their behalf.
Submitted in September 2024, the patent’s international status was detailed in a report released this week by the World Intellectual Property Organization.
In a scenario from the Uncharted series, for instance, if a user struggles with a puzzle, the system’s Guide Mode would deploy an AI version of Nathan Drake to illustrate the correct steps, allowing the player to follow along. Alternatively, Complete Mode would resolve the obstacle without further input from the user.
Assistance features like hint systems, difficulty adjustments and encounter skips are standard in many video games, particularly for puzzles and battles. Puzzle-focused titles often provide incremental clues for those at an impasse.
That said, recent Sony releases including God of War Ragnarok have drawn complaints for excessive guidance, with non-playable characters offering overt suggestions right as puzzles start, sometimes undermining the challenge.
The proposed AI would learn from archived gameplay videos rather than relying on developer-scripted sequences, potentially creating dynamic responses tailored to in-game situations.
This concept builds on the PlayStation 5’s Game Help feature, introduced with the console in 2020. It delivers visual aids like screenshots or clips directly within the game interface when available, helping players without needing external resources.
Gamers pursuing achievements have lauded the tool for its seamless integration, eliminating the need to switch to another device for walkthroughs.
Sony has not indicated any immediate plans to integrate this AI into upcoming products, and the company like many others routinely files patents for ideas that may never reach the market.
AI assistants in gaming are on the rise industry-wide. Microsoft rolled out its Copilot for Gaming last year, positioning it as a customized companion to support newcomers with tips and tasks.
Demonstrations included queries in Minecraft about using wood materials, as well as Xbox app interactions where the AI handles game installations and session summaries for titles like Age of Empires IV.
