Sony appears to be experimenting with the thought of a PlayStation controller that has a devoted “rewind” button, in line with a recently-published patent.
The patent, noticed by Tech4Gamers, is for gameplay rewind expertise that might activate when the person pressed “a common button on a controller throughout reside sport play.” The button would activate a mode the place the person sees a sequence of picture frames of reside gameplay that they’ll then scroll via. Selecting one will enable the participant to evaluate their gameplay from that time.
Per the patent photos, the button may very well be situated the place the “Share” button on the controller is now. Another picture exhibits an on-screen interface buttons much like these on a TV distant, with photos indicating Play, Pause, Next, Previous, Fast Forward, and rewind. There’s additionally a “Return” button.
The patent description means that this characteristic can be helpful in plenty of methods, resembling reminding a participant of essential quest data they may have missed, or find out how to attain a location they have been to earlier than that they can not recall find out how to entry. It additionally particulars {that a} participant would possibly bookmark sure sections of gameplay they might wish to revisit later, with the rewind button permitting them to rapidly revisit these saved moments.
The patent additionally highlights the challenges of implementing such a characteristic:
“Accessing current sport play whereas the participant is taking part in a online game is tough, and requires hacking an present service to view the portion of the sport play of curiosity,” the patent explains. “For occasion, the participant might must particularly instruct the gaming system to create a file together with parts of sport play for functions of sharing with different gamers. The participant might must exit the sport play with the intention to create the sharing file. When the sharing file is accomplished, the participant can then entry the portion of the sport play of curiosity for viewing.”
While this patent is definitely fascinating, it doesn’t suggest we’re assured to see a rewinding controller sooner or later. Gaming firms typically patent tech they’re engaged on, a few of which makes it to market, whereas some does not. In the previous few years, we have seen Sony patent adaptive sport issue programs, an interactive AR-based trophy system, auto-play and slow mode features, NFT and blockchain expertise, and extra.
In phrases of tech we have already got, the PlayStation 5 Pro simply launched, with our evaluate giving it a 7/10 and calling it “a formidable console with noticeable boosts in efficiency and graphics for video games that benefit from its highly effective {hardware}. But for $700, you’ll have to assume twice about whether or not or not the improve is well worth the price ticket.”
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can discover her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a narrative tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.
