PlayStation has been working on NFTs and blockchain technology, the Sony patent reveals

A recently published patent shows that Sony Interactive Entertainment has been actively exploring the use of NFTs and blockchain technology in games.

NFTs are unique non-fungible devices with data stored on a blockchain (a form of digital ledger), effectively allowing users to buy and sell digital products such as in-game items or artwork.

Originally filed last year and published this month, the Sony patent (via Gamesual) is titled ‘Tracking Unique In-Game Digital Assets with Tokens on a Distributed Ledger’.

It covers a system that can be used to track the creation, use, modification and transfer of digital assets created in a game, and/or assets created based on the gameplay of a video game.

“Individuals often find it meaningful to own or use unique physical objects related to respected celebrities or activities,” the patent notes background. “For example, fans of the accomplished baseball player Babe Ruth, or of baseball in general, often seek to purchase and own baseballs signed by Babe Ruth, baseballs hit by Babe Ruth in an important baseball game, trading cards depicting Babe Ruth, and the like.”

Sony suggests that its system could be used to verify the authenticity of digital assets used by skilled gamers or popular content creators, which other gamers might want to buy, sell or rent.

“These players of multiplayer video games gain popularity in multiplayer matches or tournaments, which are often live-streamed or otherwise broadcast to many viewers,” it wrote. “Similarly, players stream or otherwise known live-stream video games for one or more players, such as where players perform or attempt speed runs, in-game challenges, multiplayer matches, or other gaming activities. Some players who are particularly skilled or charismatic may develop large followings of devoted fans, much like the fan following of famous athletes, singers, actors, or other celebrities.

“In some video games, a player may use digital assets during gameplay. Such digital assets may include, for example, specific characters, costumes, or objects. In traditional video games, multiple instances of the same in-game element exist in the same copy of the video game and/or in different copies of the video game.

“These different instances of the same in-game element are traditionally fungible, since they are indistinguishable from each other. For example, although a particular in-game element is rarely obtainable in the video game, the in-game element is represented in the video game as a string of code that is identical to representations of other instances of the same in-game element in the same video game, and/or in other copies of the same video game Therefore, in traditional video games, no digital asset is unique from other instances of the same in-game element.

“As a result, in traditional video games, there is no way to know, track, or authenticate a story for a specific instance of an item in the game. For example, in traditional video games, there is no way to distinguish a specific instance of an item in-game that a famous player of the video game used to win a famous tournament from any other instance of the in-game item.”

Sony said the systems and technologies described in the patent application can be used to track the lifecycle of digital assets across different hardware platforms, including those “of a different, albeit inferior manufacturer”, and across titles from different publishers.

It wrote: “The techniques and technologies described herein extend the capabilities of video game digital assets, and of systems that create and manage such digital assets, by converting the video game digital assets from being fungible to being non-fungible.

“The techniques and technologies described herein extend the functionality of digital assets associated with video games, and of systems that create and manage such digital assets, by tracing a history to the digital assets.

“Tracing the history of the digital assets may include, for example, tracking when, how and by whom the digital asset was created, used, modified, leased to, leased by, sold to, purchased by, licensed to, licensed by, exchanged to , exchanged by and/or other actions.”

Sony recently launched a new loyalty scheme called PlayStation Stars, which enables players to earn digital rewards by completing various activities. However, it was quick to distance the program from NFTs, which have attracted criticism in some quarters due to the format’s high carbon footprint and what many perceive as cynical implementation.

“It’s definitely not NFTs,” Grace Chen, PlayStation’s vice president of network advertising, loyalty and licensed merchandise, told The Washington Post. “Definitely not. You can’t trade them or sell them. It doesn’t leverage any blockchain technologies and definitely not NFTs.”

Game companies that have launched NFT projects or are considering doing so include Square Enix, Ubisoft, Konami and Sega.