Sony Interactive Entertainment has recently filed a patent for a new gaming system that could potentially revolutionize the way players download and start playing their games. This innovative system introduces the concept of “application chunks,” allowing users to start playing a game while it continues to download in the background.

Sony’s Groundbreaking Patent: “Application Chunks”

According to VeryAli Gaming, the patent details how games will be divided into these “application chunks,” each containing data that estimates the playtime for that specific section. Not only that, but the system also sets a minimum playtime threshold for each chunk.

The system then goes on to analyze the estimated playtime of the downloaded chunks and compares it to the estimated time for the next chunk to download. If the playtime meets the threshold and is longer than the download time for the next chunk, the system will install the previous chunk, allowing users to start playing immediately as the download proceeds in the background.

But that’s not all – the patent also describes a prioritization system for the chunks based on their significance to the overall game. It takes into account the user’s individual gaming behavior and uses this information to update playtime estimates. This allows the system to select the next chunk to download based on its priority, playtime data, and user preferences.

If this system functions as intended, it could potentially eliminate the frustration of waiting for lengthy downloads and allow players to dive into their games much faster. However, it is important to note that this is still just a patent application, and there is no guarantee that Sony will actually implement this technology in the near future. It may be quite some time before we see this innovative concept come to fruition, if it ever does.