Sony's latest patent hints at a potential game-changer for future PlayStation consoles: a latency-reducing system powered by AI and additional sensors. The current PlayStation 5 Pro, while boasting the impressive PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) upscaler, faces the challenge of balancing increased frame rates (via technologies like frame generation) with minimized latency. This is a hurdle also tackled by AMD's Radeon Anti-Lag and Nvidia's Reflex technologies.
The patent, WO2025010132, intriguingly titled “TIMED INPUT/ACTION RELEASE,” aims to optimize the "timed release of user commands" by predicting your next button press. Sony acknowledges the existing latency between player input and system execution, leading to delayed actions and unintended gameplay consequences. Their proposed solution involves a sophisticated system with several key components.
A machine-learning AI model is central to this system, predicting upcoming player inputs. This AI would be aided by an external sensor, potentially a camera monitoring your controller to anticipate your button presses. The patent specifically mentions using "camera input as an input to a machine learning (ML) model," indicating the camera's role in predicting the initial user command. Alternatively, the sensor could be integrated directly into a controller button, perhaps leveraging the analog buttons Sony has championed in the past.
While this patent might not translate directly into the PlayStation 6, it underscores Sony's commitment to minimizing latency. This is particularly relevant given the growing popularity of frame generation technologies like FSR 3 and DLSS 3, which, while enhancing visuals, can introduce additional latency. The benefits of this technology would be most apparent in fast-paced games, such as twitch shooters, demanding both high frame rates and ultra-low latency. The ultimate implementation of this innovative technology in future hardware remains to be seen.
