A new PlayStation patent points to the use of NFTs and blockchain technology in games
Filed last year and published on Thursday, Sony’s patent is titled ‘NFT Framework for Transferring and Using Digital Assets Between Gaming Platforms’.
“As recognized herein, in some applications, such as computer/video games, an NFT could represent artwork or an in-game asset (such as a character, weapon, or other in-game asset), but current systems are technologically unsuitable for the owner to use the asset across different games and platforms,” a summary read.
“Accordingly, as further acknowledged herein, the functionality of the game may be enhanced by allowing players and/or viewers to exclusively use the asset and possibly transfer their rights to others via NFT.”
One example given is players getting a unique skin in one game that can then be used in other titles and even different gaming platforms. Such NFTs could also be “transferred to others (for example, sold to others for value or traded),” Sony said.
Another example describes rewarding the first person to beat a boss in a game with the “right to use hunter damage weapons in other games based on their new NFT.” “As yet another example, an NFT can be minted that represents reaching a certain level, score, and/or accumulation of points in a particular video game,” the patent says.
“The NFT can then be transferred to another person, who can then pick up the game where the transferor left off in accordance with the NFT so that the transferee starts the game at the same level, with the same score and/or with the same accumulation of points . as assignor.”
A Sony patent filed in May 2021 and published last November revealed for the first time that the company had been actively exploring the potential use of NFTs and blockchain technology in gaming.
