Sony leads the worldwide gaming giants by way of submitting for patents across the globe, in response to a examine by Anaqua’s AcclaimIP patent search and analytics software program.
Anaqua stated international gaming giants, notably Sony Interactive Leisure, have emerged as main gamers in patent filings, fueling innovation throughout a number of sides of gaming.
In reality, Sony filed over 5 instances the variety of patents as its closest rivals final 12 months, with 117 patent functions. Corporations like Activision and Digital Arts (EA) path with 22 and 21 functions, respectively.
Khyle Eaton, senior supervisor for IP Counsel at Anaqua, stated in a weblog submit that the important thing areas driving the online game trade ahead are cell and hand-held units, streaming and latency applied sciences, and cybersecurity measures. This patent exercise is a transparent reflection of the path wherein the gaming trade is shifting – in the direction of moveable, seamless, and safer gaming experiences, Eaton stated.
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The evolving panorama
Cell and hand-held gaming has not too long ago emerged as the preferred phase of the trade. Final 12 months alone, the worldwide cell gaming market generated $184 billion in income (in response to market researcher Newzoo), underscoring its great development over the previous decade.
Anaqua checked out cell and hand-held gaming-related patent filings from 2001 to 2024. Whereas
the chart consists of knowledge for 2021 and past, it’s necessary to notice a short lived decline in patent
illustration, as filings have but to be made public. Nonetheless, the numbers as much as 2021 spotlight the revolutionary momentum driving this sector.
Spine patent
This rise in reputation is fueled by a number of components. First, cell gaming provides a excessive stage of variety. Gamers can swap between aggressive first-person shooters, stress-free puzzle video games, and digital poker tournaments – all from the identical gadget. The accessibility of smartphones has additionally performed a pivotal position, with reasonably priced units like Samsung’s gaming-friendly smartphones bringing high-quality gaming to the plenty, Anaqua stated.
Moreover, the growth of 5G networks has created new prospects in cell gaming, enabling seamless connectivity and decreasing latency points. Anaqua’s annual patent report discovered the U.S. granted 55,263 5G-related patents in 2023, up 3% 12 months over 12 months. This improved infrastructure has paved the way in which for international aggressive gaming on cell units, with esports leagues just like the Conflict Royale League and Name of Responsibility Cell Championship gaining traction, Anaqua stated.
Current patents showcase the continued evolution of cell gaming {hardware}. Hand-held consoles just like the Steam Deck and controllers such because the Spine are additional blurring the strains between conventional console gaming and cell experiences. Sony’s PlayStation Portal is one other instance, providing gamers the flexibility to proceed gaming on the go with out sacrificing the standard of the console expertise.
Streaming and latency patents
As gaming has moved in the direction of cell and cross-platform play, streaming applied sciences and latency discount have change into more and more necessary. That is essential for the rising development of cloud gaming, the place efficiency hinges on low-latency connections.
Patents on this house are geared toward enhancing the efficiency of video games throughout numerous platforms, together with VR headsets, sensible TVs, and consoles. These improvements are important for decreasing lag and
guaranteeing clean gameplay, notably for streamed and multiplayer video games, Anaqua stated.
For instance, Sony’s patented system (JP2024111022 A) adjusts video encoding in real-time based mostly on a
participant’s web bandwidth, optimizing cloud gaming efficiency. Likewise, AT&T’s technique (US20240216800 A1) streamlines sport transitions by downloading important content material whereas eradicating pointless knowledge, serving to to cut back interrupted gameplay. These improvements in streaming are essential to delivering high-quality gaming experiences with out counting on highly effective native {hardware}, Anaqua stated.
As extra corporations file patents in these areas, competitors will change into much more intense, with giants like Sony, Tencent, Amazon, and Microsoft main the cost in latency and streaming expertise. The way forward for gaming, notably cloud-based and VR gaming, is being formed by these improvements, Anaqua stated.
Patents geared toward stopping cyberbullying
Gaming will be an immersive and constructive expertise, however it is usually vulnerable to unfavorable components, equivalent to cyberbullying, Anaqua stated. With 70% of youths beneath the age of 18 enjoying video video games, and 65% of all gamers participating in multiplayer video games, the danger of on-line harassment is prevalent.
The most typical type of on-line harassment entails offensive name-calling, which surged in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic as video gaming, notably multiplayer video games, noticed a pointy improve in exercise. To handle this problem, corporations like Sony Interactive are submitting patents geared toward combating cyberbullying inside gaming communities. For instance, Sony’s patent (US20240017177 A1) introduces a system that flags disruptive conduct throughout gameplay and notifies moderators with video clips for evaluation.
Main builders like Riot Video games and Ubisoft are additionally engaged on AI-driven instruments to detect dangerous behaviors in real-time, with tasks like Zero Hurt in Comms utilizing AI to research in-game communications for indicators of harassment.
