Patent US20250121289 – AI Generated Ghost Player

Back in the early 2000s, if you had said “Ghost player” I would have immediately thought of the ghost cars, that we used to race against in early racing games. Back then, “ghosts” were usually a transparent version of yourself, which you could race against. In order to beat your previous lap times. And now, we have: AI Generated Ghost Player(s) with the alleged patent, that Sony’s is allegedly aiming for. Patent US20250121289.

Patent US20250121289

According to Google Patents (yes, its an actual thing… just like Google Analytics), the abstract blurb on this patent describes this AI as follows – Methods and systems are provided for providing a player with assistance during gameplay of a video game is provided. The method includes executing a video game for a game session. The player controls a player character during the game session. The method includes detecting selection of ghost assistance for the game session. The method includes linking or connecting the game session to an assistance artificial intelligence (AI) engine. The assistance AI engine operates to provide ghost assistance to the player in accordance with a mode setting..

In normal English, it essentially means – When a player gets stuck somewhere in a video game. Or needs help (for whatever reason), they will be able to “switch to” an AI “pilot” who takes over their character, and plays the game for them. While the player(s) watch, and wait. According to the settings/options selected.

What do you think of that?

The problems with: Patent US20250121289 – AI Generated Ghost Player

Speaking as a gamer, my personal concerns are that – this application could be yet-another attempt at patent hording. An act in which big companies, go out and file abstractly vague patents which (in some cases) only serve to prevent their competitors from making new advancements. In both hardware or gameplay.

Think Nintendo.

But, in order to make this claim (in this case). One would need proof that Sony, has no real intent to bring the technology to life. So, at the end of the day… only time will tell.

Conclusion on Patent US20250121289

It’s rather disappointing to see how big studios have drifted away from things like offline bots (which used to allow gamers without friends to play team-based games e.g Unreal Tournament’s Warfare mode. Such a game (with all its vehicles, and vast maps) could be played 100% offline (versus, and alongside bots). And now… instead of bringing back a bit of that, studios will rather pump millions into an “AI player” technology that will presumably contribute to the ongoing hardware/ram woes and shortages.

Granted, back in the day the “AI/bot” technology wasn’t designed to “play the game for you.” But, as a gamer… I’d still prefer furthering the technology we had back them, over the new beast that I’ll call “experience-generation” AI.

I strongly suspect that if (and its a big if) the “AI Generated Ghost Player” technology ever becomes a reality, it will require to be “trained” using some kind of footage of actual people playing the game. BEFORE the game even comes out. Otherwise the AI will not be able to be shipped out day 1. And given the kinda open world games that many are into these days, it will take a lot of footages (from different play styles) in order to make the AI sufficiently competent in “taking over the controller.”

Ultimately, I think (if this tech comes to life) Sony will be forced to make their games less “open” in order to make things easier for the AI. At least in the beginning. Which is a phase that could last and affect their game styles, for years and years. Before it becomes “more open” or before it all crumbles under outrage from gamers (whichever one comes first). Gamers who will be frustrated by the “less-open” games.

What do you think about this patent?