Sony Wants to Create AI Companions Based on Player Behavior

26.02.2024 - 20:19 / gamerant.com / J Brodie Shirey / Sony

According to a recently filed patent, Sony is trying to create AI-controlled companions that can change their behavior based on the player’s actions. Sony is always looking to improve its gaming platforms through promising new features like the ability to replay certain story and gameplay moments or maintain a player’s privacy while taking voice and video calls during a session of God of War Ragnarok or Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.

One gaming aspect that always has room for improvement is the use of computer-controlled companion characters. Team-centric games like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League typically have the CPU serve as squad mates whenever the player elects to play alone, and even single-player-focused titles like God of War Ragnaroksometimes feature a secondary character who assists the hero in certain sections. While these non-player teammates can be helpful in solving puzzles or defeating difficult enemies, having them successfully replicate what an actual human being would do in these scenarios is an ever-present challenge for developers.

Sony might be looking for ways to improve non-player character behaviors using AI, according to a recent patent filing. This document describes an artificial intelligence model that would monitor player behaviors and then craft a local AI model based on these actions. Theoretically, this would result in AI-controlled companion characters that behave just like the player would, which in turn could lead to more authentic interactions between said companions and the human user behind the controller.

The use of AI to recreate key components like artwork and voice acting remains a highly controversial topic in gaming, but Sony has toyed with implementing it in other ways over the past couple of years. Last February, the company filed a patent for an AI system that would recommend music for players to listen to based on their previous choices. Before that, Sony filed a document describing a sort of “coach” program to help players manage their inventories in titles like God of War Ragnarok or Horizon Forbidden West.

These are just a few of the ways that AI could help enhance the gaming experience, and Sony seems to be interested in using it to create more authentic and helpful companion characters in single-player or squad-based titles. Like all patents, this latest filing might not lead to anything, but it does illustrate a promising method for improving the CPU-guided partners that players often depend on in the heat of battle.

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