Sony Interactive Entertainment has unveiled a new patent that showcases a technology allowing numerous players to share inputs through a single controller, via a cloud gaming service. As the gaming industry shifts towards cloud gaming, Sony is heavily investing in this technology. Despite the immense success of PlayStation 5, Sony is not complacent and continues to innovate. Among its latest offerings is the Project Q Remote Play handheld, which has been in development for almost a decade, and now, the newly published patent points towards another promising technology for the future of Sony's gaming portfolio.
The Sony patent titled "Dynamic Allocation of Split Control in a Video Game" has the potential to revolutionize the gaming industry. Through a cloud gaming service, this technology can divide one controller's inputs among multiple players. For instance, in a game like Street Fighter 6, players can take on specific roles such as controlling the sticks for movement, primary buttons, or trigger buttons. However, it remains unclear if this feature will be exclusive to cloud gaming, as the patent solely focuses on cloud technology.
The patent presents an intriguing possibility for gamers with limited button accessibility on controllers. However, it remains unclear if this technology will simplify or complicate character control. While sharing a controller could make executing complex combos in fighting games like Tekken or Street Fighter easier, effective communication between players would be crucial to ensure successful button presses in the correct order. Despite potential challenges, this technology promises to be a highly entertaining addition to gaming. The prospect of multiple players controlling a single in-game character could result in chaotic yet amusing gameplay moments. It will be interesting to see how Sony will ultimately introduce this technology to the gaming community.