The PS5 could implement either the most helpful or the most invasive prompt in gaming history, depending on how you look at it; in 2018, Sony filed a patent with the US Patent and Trademark Office for a system called the "In-Game Information Platform"

This technology could link in-game information with external sources to inform how long certain sections take, how to complete them more efficiently, and even how play time might affect real-world activities, such as watching a TV show

This application is quite lengthy and complex However, Sony explains the basics in the application brief The technology is described as a "duration information platform" that can inform players of the approximate time it will take for a game objective and the steps they can take to reduce it The platform can also synchronize with external information to tell the player how long it will take for real-world priorities to intervene

Now let's look at some examples, using the Sony diagram as a guide In Figure 8a, Sony depicts a gameplay screen (very similar to "God of War") with a small caption in the lower right corner that reads, "The expected time to complete this level is approximately 45 minutes That alone may be useful information

However, this information need not exist in a vacuum Figure 8B depicts the same scene, but this time the caption reads: "The program you are watching will begin in 30 minutes The time needed to complete this level is 45 minutes You should not attempt this level now" The game can sync with virtual calendars and live streaming services, so it probably "knows" what shows you want to watch (If only PlayStation Vue still existed, but I digress)

Figure 9B goes deeper: "The estimated time to complete this level is 45 minutes If you select resource X, the estimated time to complete is 25 minutes"

The prompt then displays: "If you select resource X, the estimated time to complete this level will be 25 minutes Here, the prompt changes from purely informative to prescriptive Based on community data, the game may tell you not only how long a level takes, but also how to complete it more efficiently Other diagrams in the application show a more granular approach, with the platform dictating more efficient weapon and skill combinations

The platform also has more mundane applications Figure 10 is a virtual racing game in which a pop-up dialog box explains the importance of local landmarks and real-world information about the car This is not so different from Amazon's X-Ray mode, which provides real-time information about actors and scene trivia

However, the reader should keep in mind that the technology described here is the result of a patent application The patent has not yet been granted, and even if it were granted, there is no guarantee that Sony would implement the technology Furthermore, the patent does not specifically tie this information to a particular game console, such as the PS5 In fact, the console depicted in the diagram is a PS4 Still, it is probably not an exaggeration to say that Sony filed this application with the next console in mind, not the current one

Still, it is easy to imagine such a feature splitting fans in half We have all struggled with difficult sections in a game, and we might be glad to have an accurate analysis of where the game itself is going wrong Similarly, we have all experienced missing our favorite programs because of a prolonged gaming session, and if prompted by the game itself, we might actually be persuaded to turn off the system before it is too late

On the other hand, this seems like a rather rigid way to play the game The platform may try to optimize your approach to the game, subtly enforcing time constraints and telling you the most efficient way to complete the game rather than the most enjoyable way It forces you to adhere to a schedule rather than play spontaneously And interrupts gameplay with intrusive real-world information

Of course, this feature would probably be optional, so the platform would not have to interfere with your leisure time But it is obviously odd to have an activity that is just for fun tell you, "You are not doing this efficiently enough" It makes sense to enjoy the game at your own pace