Sony's New Patent Aims to Reduce Gaming Latency with AI and Sensor Technology
A recently filed Sony patent reveals a potential solution to reduce input latency in future gaming hardware. The patent, titled "TIMED INPUT/ACTION RELEASE" (WO2025010132), details a system utilizing AI and additional sensors to predict user inputs, thereby minimizing delays between command input and execution.
Current upscaling technologies, like the PlayStation 5 Pro's PSSR, and frame generation techniques often introduce latency, impacting responsiveness. While AMD's Radeon Anti-Lag and Nvidia's Reflex address this issue, Sony's patent suggests an alternative approach.
As highlighted by Tech4gamers, the core of Sony's proposed solution involves a machine-learning AI model that anticipates the player's next input. This prediction is aided by an external sensor, potentially a camera monitoring the controller, to detect the player's actions before they are registered. The patent explicitly mentions using "camera input as an input to a machine learning (ML) model." Alternatively, the sensor could be integrated into the controller itself, possibly leveraging analog button technology.
While the patent doesn't guarantee a direct implementation in the PlayStation 6, it showcases Sony's commitment to mitigating latency issues arising from advanced rendering techniques like FSR 3 and DLSS 3. These technologies, while enhancing visuals, often add latency.
The benefits of this technology would be particularly noticeable in fast-paced games requiring both high frame rates and low latency, such as twitch shooters. However, the ultimate adoption of this patent in future hardware remains uncertain.
