Sony Files Patent for AI “Ghost” to Help Players Conquer Tough Levels

Summary

• Sony Interactive Entertainment files a patent for an AI-powered “ghost” player that demonstrates gameplay solutions in real-time
• The system is designed to respond to natural language queries and offer assistance across story, combat, and exploration modes
• Industry analysts suggest the feature reflects a broader push for on-device intelligence that could impact next-gen console specs

Sony Interactive Entertainment has filed a new patent that could fundamentally change how players overcome in-game hurdles. Dubbed the “AI Ghost Player,” the system envisions an interactive overlay character capable of performing actions alongside the user. Unlike traditional pop-up tutorials or text hints, this AI entity would act as a digital big brother, running routes, demonstrating combat timing, or highlighting hidden paths directly within the game environment.

According to the filing via allaboutai, the “ghost” is powered by an assistance AI engine that generates control inputs to mimic a human player. This allows for a “show me, don’t tell me” approach where the assistant can be summoned via natural language commands. The patent outlines several distinct modes, including a “Combat Mode” for mastering parries and dodges, and an “Exploration Mode” for uncovering secrets. It even suggests a “Full Game Mode” where the AI could potentially complete specific tasks or guided runs for the player.

While the concept promises to lower the barrier to entry for difficult titles, it also highlights the increasing hardware demands of modern gaming. Running complex, context-aware AI models requires significant memory and compute power. With data centers currently soaking up the global supply of high-speed memory chips for AI infrastructure, analysts note that integrating such features into consumer consoles could influence the pricing and release timelines of future hardware like the PlayStation 6.