Sony’s AI Ghost Could Play Your Games For You

According to Eurogamer.net, a Sony patent filed over a year ago and recently noticed by sites like All About AI and VGC outlines plans for an AI “ghost” assistant in PlayStation games. This system would create an overlay version of the player’s character to demonstrate actions, show controller button sequences, solve puzzles, or even complete entire game sections when a player is stuck. The patent describes four potential modes: Story, Combat, Exploration, and Full Game Mode. It argues that while players can look up guides online, the process is time-consuming and not always relevant, positioning this AI as an integrated solution. The ghost would reportedly be trained on existing gameplay footage, and the concept appears to be a direct evolution of the PS5’s current Game Help feature.

AI Help or AI Hand-Holding?

Here’s the thing: this isn’t a totally alien idea. We’ve had in-game hint systems for decades, and both PlayStation’s Game Help and Microsoft’s Copilot are already in that assistance lane. But an AI that doesn’t just give a tip, but literally shows you the exact button presses or finishes the section for you? That’s a different beast. It blurs the line between getting help and having the game play itself. I get the intent—reducing frustration and keeping players engaged. But part of gaming‘s satisfaction is overcoming a challenge. If an AI ghost can just swoop in, what’s the point? Are we moving towards games that are just interactive movies you occasionally steer?

The Broader AI Game-Dev Landscape

This patent fits right into the industry’s raging AI debate. A 2024 Unity report said 62% of studios using its tools employed AI somewhere in development, with animation being a top use. A GDC survey that same year found about a third of devs were already using AI tools, and a Tokyo Games Show survey indicated over half of Japanese companies are. Epic’s Tim Sweeney has said AI will be in “nearly all future production.” So Sony exploring AI for the player-side experience, not just development, feels inevitable. The tech is permeating every layer. But it also raises practical questions. Will this be a premium feature? How will it work in always-online games? And what happens when the AI gets it wrong?

Where Does This Leave Us?

Look, the patent is just that—a patent. Many never see the light of day. But it’s a fascinating signal of intent. Sony is clearly thinking about using AI to lower barriers in complex games, potentially making them accessible to a much wider audience. That’s not a bad goal. But the implementation is everything. A ghost that offers subtle environmental hints or clarifies an obscure quest objective? Great. A ghost that plays the tough boss fight for you on command? That seems like it could fundamentally break the game’s design. Basically, it comes down to control. If the player has fine-grained authority over how and when the AI intervenes, it could be a powerful accessibility and learning tool. If it’s a blunt instrument, it might just become a crutch that cheapens the experience. The industry is still figuring this out, and patents like this are the first drafts of that future.