Rundown:
- According to a recently published patent, Sony Interactive Entertainment is possibly working on a cloud gaming system that could be integrated into streaming services like Netflix and YouTube.
- The patent outlines a system in which players can access and play video games through a cloud gaming server present on streaming services through a pass-through device that can be integrated with streaming devices like Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV Stick.
- The system would allow players to access a library of video games and select the ones they want to play, much like they currently do with movies and television shows on streaming services.
- The pass-through device may also allow many other operations of a cloud gaming system to be performed by the pass-through device itself rather than the streaming device.
- The pass-through device may supposedly be connected to any device that supports a streaming device’s connection and has internet access, such as a smart television or mobile device.
Sony Interactive Entertainment, a division of Sony Corporation that focuses on developing and distributing video game hardware and software and digital entertainment, is undoubtedly one of, if not the most recognised video game and digital entertainment companies out there. Since its foundation in 1993, it has become a dominant player in the video game industry, with its PlayStation brand being one of the most popular and successful video game consoles of all time. The company has also been responsible for developing and publishing many popular video game franchises, including God of War, Uncharted, and The Last of Us.
In addition to its contributions to the video game industry, Sony Interactive Entertainment is also known for its many accomplishments and innovations. In recent years, Sony Interactive Entertainment has expanded immensely into virtual reality gaming and cloud gaming (or gaming-as-a-service). Being a foremost company in the video game industry, Sony Interactive Entertainment is committed to making its services more accessible to players. Only a few days ago, we uncovered a recently published patent from the company that discusses a technology to incorporate a personalised virtual dojo for players to improve their skills based on data retrieved from their gameplay.
Earlier today, we found that the company was awarded yet another patent, this time for a cloud gaming system that could potentially be integrated into streaming services like Netflix and YouTube. The patent, titled “PASS-THROUGH DEVICE FOR CLOUD GAMING AND METHODS FOR PROCESSING,” outlines a system in which players can access and play video games through a cloud gaming server present on streaming services through a pass-through device that can be integrated with streaming devices like Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV Stick. The system would allow players to access a library of video games and select the ones they want to play, much like they currently do with movies and television shows on streaming services, except without having to navigate between cloud gaming and streaming services.
“Methods and systems are provided for processing video games streamed from a cloud gaming system over a network. The method includes receiving an indication of selection of the video game, for a gaming session, through a user interface associated with a streaming device that is connected to a display screen via a pass-through device,” the abstract for the patent reads. “The method includes receiving a signal that the gaming session is active, from a game streaming logic of the pass-through device. In one embodiment, the game streaming logic is configured to receive a compressed stream of the video game, decode the compressed stream of the video game, and provide image data for rendering by the display screen, and receiving user input by the game streaming logic for driving interactivity of the video game while said cloud gaming system executes said video game.”
According to the patent, the pass-through device may be connected to a streaming device, like Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV Stick, which can then be used to access the corresponding streaming services, like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. In this way, there won’t be a need to modify the hardware of the streaming device, and the player will be not only able to access their preferred movies and television shows but also their preferred video games (through cloud gaming) directly from the user interface of their desired streaming service. “Accordingly, users can seamlessly switch between viewing media content and cloud gaming in an efficient manner using a pass-through device that is connected to their preferred streaming device,” reads the patent.
Furthermore, seamless integration may not be the only feature of the pass-through device, as it may also allow many other operations of a cloud gaming system to be performed by the pass-through device itself rather than the streaming device, such as facilitating low-latency video decoding, high processing power, wireless connection to devices through Bluetooth, wireless connection to a cloud gaming server, controller input and video frames processing at low-latency, providing video frames for rendering by a video display device, and more, as detailed in the patent.
Additionally, the functionality of how the video game(s) will be executed through the pass-through device on the streaming device and/or streaming service seemingly remains the same as any other cloud gaming system. “In one embodiment, the game streaming logic is configured to receive a compressed stream of the video game, decode the compressed stream of the video game, and provide image data for rendering by the display screen, and receiving user input by the game streaming logic for driving interactivity of the video game while said cloud gaming system executes said video game,” explains the patent. Accordingly, the pass-through device will be responsible for “receiving an indication of selection of the video game, for a gaming session, through a user interface associated with a streaming device” and “receiving a signal that the gaming session is active.”
As for the hardware implementation of the pass-through device, it seems to be the same as any other streaming device, where the pass-through device will comprise an HDMI input and output port. Additionally, the pass-through device will also contain a “passthrough logic” and “game streaming logic,” which will be responsible for the execution of the cloud gaming system on the connected streaming device and/or streaming service. The pass-through device may supposedly be connected to any device that supports a streaming device’s connection and has internet access, such as a smart television or mobile device. Lastly, unlike current cloud gaming systems, the controller (or any other input device) may not need to be connected directly to the streaming/display device but, rather, wirelessly to the pass-through device, which eradicates the need for even a computer or console for the cloud gaming system to work on.
The patent highlights the potential for cloud gaming services to be used on many devices, including mobile devices, smart televisions, and conventional video game consoles, without needing a computer or any such device for the cloud gaming system to work on. This could make cloud gaming more accessible to a broader audience and allow for more convenient gaming on the go. It’s important to note that being awarded a patent does not necessarily mean that Sony Interactive Entertainment will develop and implement this cloud gaming system. However, the patent does demonstrate the company’s interest in exploring new ways to bring gaming to a broader audience and potentially expand its presence in the streaming service industry.
What do you think about this? Do tell us your opinions in the comments below!
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