Sony submits a patent for NFT-based in-game asset tracking
The patent would enable gamers to acquire exclusive in-game items and memorabilia from their preferred esports personalities.
According to recently made public documents, global entertainment giant Sony submitted a patent application in 2021 for a system that uses blockchain technology, more specifically NFTs, to track digital assets in video games. On November 10, 2022, the patent became public.
The global appeal of gaming and consumers’ desire to acquire one-of-a-kind products connected to their favorite celebrities, pastimes, and esports tournament champions are two factors cited by Sony, a Japanese multinational technology company best known for its PlayStation game systems.
According to Sony, “it is impossible to distinguish between a particular instance of an in-game item that a well-known player of the game used to win a renowned tournament and any other instance of the in-game item in conventional video games.”
Sony intends to use a distributed ledger, or blockchain, to store digital media assets, gameplay, and video clips and to include a special token for the digital item with a special identifier and metadata that would identify the properties of the digital asset, according to the application.
NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, are cryptographically distinct tokens linked to both digital and physical content, proving ownership of items like artwork, music, collectibles, and game items.
Even though the application is only for a patent, it demonstrates Sony’s interest in participating in the expanding NFT gaming market. Axie Infinity, Alien Worlds, STEPN, and The Sandbox are a few of the most popular NFT games, also referred to as Play-to-earn games, according to CoinGecko.
In a request to update the history, “Changes to features of the digital asset, such as ownership, visual appearance, or information, can be detected,” according to Sony. “A new block can be constructed and added to the distributed ledger” to record the modifications to the digital asset’s past.
The Tokyo-based Sony is one of the biggest media and entertainment companies to develop plans for incorporating NFTs and blockchain technology into its games, even though it wasn’t the first company to use the technology.
Sony’s pursuit of NFTs is not new, as seen by this patent. Sony and Theta Labs collaborated to release a line of 3D NFTs in May 2022. The limited-edition NFT collection can be viewed on the Sony Spatial Reality Display tablet-style device.
About Sony
Sony, in full Sony Corporation, major Japanese manufacturer of consumer electronics products. It also was involved in films, music, and financial services, among other ventures. Sony Group Corporation is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan.
