A new patent application from the Japanese tech titan describes a machine learning system that automatically adjusts difficulty levels when gamers are struggling. The patent was published last week and first spotted by SegmentNext. It suggests using AI to alter a boss’ moves “based on successful and/or unsuccessful methods or tactics” previously used by a player: The machine learning model would then determine new behaviors for the opponent that make them more or less tricky to defeat. This might lead the AI to stop the boss from using a weapon that always slaughters you, or give them a shiny new shield if you’re the one doing the killing. These changes could be based on data from an individual gamer or patterns recognized from multiple players. [Read: How much does it cost to buy, own, and run an EV? It’s not as much as you think] Higher-level gamers may be rewarded for their skills. The patent proposes providing varying prizes depending on their level of difficulty: Sony’s system certainly sounds promising: it could help games find that tricky balance between challenging and infuriating. It might even enable Mike Tyson to finally knockout Mike Tyson. If only the AI had been around during my childhood duels with Psycho Mantis in Metal Gear Solid. I could have used those endless hours to master a new language — or better yet, a new game.
