Sony has been granted a US patent for a system that lets livestream viewers point things out on a streamer's screen and change what happens in the game. Titled "Adaptive screen share pointer and reactions during gameplay," the patent was filed in October 2023 and issued on October 6. A viewer gets a cursor that appears over the streamer's gameplay, with its look changing based on the game being played.
The patent gives examples like marking a boss's weak point or showing where to aim a shot. Viewers could also drop stickers on the screen, or send emoji reactions that the streamer feels as vibration through a controller, VR headset, or phone. The patent describes game actions reserved for viewers who aren't controlling the character, such as triggering a lever or revealing a hidden item, with publishers defining these through an SDK.
Only one cursor may appear at a time, with control passed between viewers through a queue based on engagement points. Streamers could earn a virtual trophy from reactions, while viewers receive tiered rewards. Consoles from Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo are listed as client devices.
A granted patent does not guarantee a product, and there is no word from Sony about bringing this to the PS5 or PS6. Companies of Sony's size often patent ideas just to protect concepts, and many never ship.
Source: TechPowerUp News · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing