Sony just filed a fascinating patent for an AI technology that acts as a “ghost” player, designed to step in and complete games for you when you get stuck on a particularly tricky section, as per Dexerto. This is a huge development, and it lands right in the middle of the endless industry debate about artificial intelligence in gaming.
Regardless of where you stand on AI, there’s no denying that it’s becoming much more prominent. This new system from Sony gives us a glimpse into a future where your PlayStation console acts like the older, more skilled sibling who jumps in to save the day when you hand them the controller.
The patent outlines a system that uses an AI “overlay” to assist the player. Think of it as the ultimate upgrade to the PS5’s existing Game Help feature. Instead of forcing you to read boring text prompts or watch a static video that doesn’t quite match your current situation, the system creates a dynamic, organic demonstration right in your game environment.
The system focuses on accessibility and education rather than just giving you the answer
The patent details multiple different modes, which is smart because one size certainly doesn’t fit all difficulty levels. The outlined modes include Story, Exploration, Combat, and even a Full Game option. If you’re struggling with a tricky boss fight, the Combat mode is pure gold. It highlights key timings and attack patterns right on screen so you can replicate the perfect defensive and offensive strategy.
The real game-changer, though, is the Full Game mode. If you’re truly bogged down in a section you just can’t get past and simply want to see the next chapter, the ghost player will jump in, finish the task, and hand the controls back to you. This means you can keep the narrative momentum going without having to rage quit for the night.
It’s clear Sony is trying to address a major barrier to entry in modern gaming, which often features massive open worlds and complex mechanics. The company explicitly explained their reasoning in the filing. “Games become very complicated, so players who are not experts oftentimes quit playing or find it hard to complete tasks,” the filing reads. They also pointed out that current solutions, like looking up old gameplay videos or doing research, are often too time-consuming.
The initial filing for this revolutionary system was made back in September 2024, and the details only recently became public through a World Intellectual Property Organization status report. This ghost technology lands right in the middle of a massive industry controversy. For instance, the game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 had its Indie Game Awards rescinded because it used placeholder assets generated by AI. Similarly, Arc Raiders faced intense scrutiny for using AI voicelines.
While this Sony patent focuses on player assistance rather than asset creation, it shows that AI is becoming more prominent for PlayStation. Of course, we have to keep our expectations in check. Companies file patents constantly just to cover their bases, so this system isn’t guaranteed to show up on your console anytime soon. Interestingly, this isn’t the only AI feature Sony has been exploring lately. They recently filed another patent outlining a feature capable of censoring game content in real time.
Published: Jan 7, 2026 02:30 pm