Sony is trying to patent a 'universal' rewind button that could fix your worst gaming catastrophes
A new patent application from Sony for a dedicated rewind button for games consoles has been spotted by Tech4Gamers (viaTom's Hardware). It's not clear when or on what console or controller the new feature may appear or even if the patent will be awarded. At taken at face value, it promises to fix all your worst gaming failures.
Well, it could for single player gaming. Sony's patent says, «the user is able to enter the rewind mode from the live game play using one or more controller inputs to view recent game play (e.g. rewinding, fast-forwarding, playing, etc.) and returning to live game play afterwards.»
The patent also says, «advantages of the methods and systems configured to implement a system implemented rewind mode to revisit recent game play that is accessible via a universal button on a game controller during live game play include a seamless experience in replaying the recent game play.»
This «universal» notion is repeated numerous times throughout the patent, implying that the button is designed to work with all games. Of course, it can't actually be all games. You won't be able to rewind a multiplayer online shooter for fairly obvious reasons.
The question is, will you be able to rewind all single-player games? That certainly seems to be the implication. And if you can, how do you feel about that? For some games, it could be a godsend.
Equally, a certain kind of gaming purist might be offended by the easy or even lazy opportunities such a feature would provide. For sure, it would pull the rug out from under any jeopardy you might otherwise experience.
Where once you might have spent 20 minutes carefully plotting a treacherous route between specific and limited way points that allowed you to save progress, a universal rewind button would mean that you could make any kind of error at literally any moment, and all without consequences.
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