Unearthed Sony patent reveals the company is venturing into NFTs and Blockchain

Sony Interactive Entertainment recently published a patent that includes the use of blockchain technology to track digital assets in the game, possibly replicating the scarcity of real-world items signed by popular celebrities and sports icons.

The patent was first filed back in 2021, only to resurface to the public this November. Sony is a Japanese multinational conglomerate company. The company is primarily known for its production of iconic game consoles called PlayStation, as well as a number of other technological products such as televisions, phones, cameras and many more.

The blockchain patent is called “Tracking unique digital assets in the game using tokens on a distributed ledger”. It indicated the use of terms such as blockchain, record digital media assets and distributed ledger which are all highly synonymous with NFTs and blockchain.

NFTs are non-fungible tokens that have a unique signature recorded in the blockchain. It is currently used in various web3 applications to provide authenticity and ownership among users. This digital asset is considered to be highly profitable, amassing over $250 million in sales in 2021.

For most, this patent may mean just another gaming related company taking a step into web3. However, there is something different about the technology it pursues that sets it apart a bit. There are a few caps in the disclosure of this patent application.

First the obvious. It highlights that Sony is very interested in pursuing the space of NFT art and NFT games despite previous attempts to try and distance themselves in the past. Sony differentiated its latest PlayStation Stars rewards program from NFTs, citing that they cannot be traded or sold for profit.

Since then, the major entertainment and media company has taken deliberate steps to venture into web3. In May 2022, Sony began a collaboration with Theta labs to launch a 3D NFT collection. PlayStation has also previously surveyed customers about what kinds of NFTs they are interested in purchasing, and indicated future plans to have its own collection available on the game console.

Also, the patent specifically describes technology with the ability to track the history of an item in the game. The company states that it seeks to emulate the scarcity derived from “Baseballs autographed by Babe Ruth” into the GameFi world. This means we could possibly see NFT shells or items that have a digital footprint of a famous esports player or streamer.

Depending on which side of the fence you’re on, this can either be alarming or an exciting money prospect. For companies, the chance for their collaborating Esport players or streamers such as Ninja or The pokies placing their digital footprints in the skin i Fortnite means a new profitable venture.

However, this could mean more ways for customers to experience expensive items in the game. The idea is that users should be able to use the accurate rifle Dr. Disrespect used in his streams, but this may not be anyone’s cup of tea primarily because it could mean a number of more expensive digital goods that can make money staying away.

Edmond is a passionate writer for video games, GameFi and Web3. He has worked for top GameFi companies and video game/crypto news sites.