PlayStation has recently filed a patent for the type of technology that would allow audience members to be able to participate in VR content. This means that they would be able to make decisions for the active player as well or basically just mess around with them.
Virtual Reality patent
The patent was previously filed back in October of 2020 but has only recently surfaced. People can see the first page of this patent on the official US Patent and Trademark Office website. The patent's very own copy talks about just how the audience members will be able to themselves participate in the games while yet another user will be immersed within the virtual reality.
It was said that the audience would also be able to make certain decisions for the player through the "spectator devices," which could mean mobile phones, just like a particular manner quite similar to the PlayStation's very own PlayLink technology that is being used in certain games just like That's You and Hidden Agenda.
VR new patent allows spectators to join somehow
It now looks like players will be able to either help or screw over the one main player in the VR. However, this still depends greatly on the available choices. According to the patent itself, this technology will augment the whole VR scene based on certain spectator inputs in response towards the interactive content of the particular audience participation with the content.
In the story by IGN, it was seen that just one type of user is stuck inside of VR while there are four other friends on the sofa behind their back. On the screen that is visible to the audience is a particular voting prompt, which would allow them to pick a monster, a sword, or even a soup ladle. The choice is then registered on the said spectator devices then immediately sent to the player stuck inside VR who only sees the prompt notification that spectators have given him a ladle.
Patented but not confirmed
It is still not clear as of the moment as to whether VR users would know about the options that are available or not, but this would definitely add to the mischievous nature of this whole interesting technology. The idea had immediately conjured images of certain spectators being able to promptly send unwitting players down certain bad paths in maybe a horror game or they could maybe make story decisions for them along with a narrative experience.
Just like any other patent, the main fact that it was officially filed still does not mean that Sony will be going to develop it further. This is basically just another indication that the company itself is now actively thinking about where they should go along with its VR products. As of the moment, however, the patent had just recently surfaced so there could be still a long time before Sony would possibly use the patent in their VR.
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This article is owned by Tech Times
Written by Urian Buenconsejo
