Sony just filed a patent to make every game family-friendly, and the bizarre AI technology it uses to replace slurs is absolutely wild

Sony just patented an incredibly ambitious AI censorship tool that could theoretically make every single video game, even the most adult AAA titles, completely family-friendly, as per GamingBible. Sony Interactive Entertainment filed the patent on December 9, and it reveals a powerful processor that can detect and access a game’s audio and video content.

The goal is simple: to keep up with the evolving gaming tech landscape and use AI to provide tailored censorship for different users. While this technology is aimed squarely at the PlayStation 5 and upcoming PlayStation 6, the documents suggest Sony sees this being used across all major computer ecosystems. That means we could potentially see this kind of filtering on rival consoles, including Microsoft’s Xbox and even the Nintendo Switch hardware.

This isn’t just about muting the occasional bad word. The AI system is designed to handle everything from blurring nudity and gore to completely muting slurs. What’s truly next-level, though, is the use of deepfake AI technology. Instead of just hiding content, the system can actually replace the censored audio or video, meaning you would hear or see something altogether different than what the original game intended. I think it’s a unique use of AI, even if generative AI has faced some serious criticism lately.

This patent is clearly Sony’s way of ensuring every game is accessible to all ages

The official patent description lays out the technical vision: “Artificial intelligence (AI) models are disclosed to customize audio video (AV) content, such as video game content, based on user-provided content filtering parameters.” This tool is designed to be fully automated and incredibly flexible. The system would implement a second processor specifically to obscure or replace the selected content based on your user profile.

The flexibility is key here because users are able to set their own parameters at will. Upcoming major AAA releases could offer users the choice to filter out things like adult language, nudity, gore, alcohol use, and scenes of a sexual nature. If you’re a content creator or streamer, this could be massive. Having a built-in tool that automatically cleans up a game means you won’t have to worry about accidentally violating platform rules mid-stream. It also makes games viable for younger players.

The AI will keep you informed, too. The patent reveals that players will be notified of upcoming content both before the game starts and while it is running. While this is happening, the AI will carry out the censorship based on your specific preferences. You then get to choose whether you want the AI to “remove the content” or simply “replace the content.”

It’s genuinely hard to wrap my head around how this would work for a game that leans heavily into adult themes, like the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI. Trying to imagine a fully censored GTA is a challenge, but the fact that Sony is investing in this technology shows they are serious about creating highly customized player experiences. This newly acquired patent could radically change how we play games and what we see in them.