Sony patents ‘Direct Gameplay’ OS feature likely set for PS5

Sony has filed a patent for ‘Direct Gameplay’, a likely PS5 feature that will allow players to jump into specific parts of games straight from the console’s home menu.

The patent, published this month but filed in 2018, describes launching directly into specific game content or activities from a dynamically generated menu, which would be unique to each game.

The feature would allow users to launch directly into a multiplayer match, specific game chapter or mode directly from the operating system menu, instead of having to boot a game and then progress through a series of menus.

The patent also suggests the feature could display dynamic content such as a Trophy the player is trying to unlock or a friend’s game activity, and boot them directly to relevant content.

The Direct Gameplay feature sounds similar to a description of the PlayStation 5’s OS by architect Mark Cerny.

Speaking to Wired in October 2019, Cerny confirmed PS5 will feature a “completely revamped” interface which will allow players to boot directly into multiplayer games and display joinable online activities in real-time.

“Even though it will be fairly fast to boot games, we don’t want the player to have to boot the game, see what’s up, boot the game, see what’s up,” Cerny said.

“Multiplayer game servers will provide the console with the set of joinable activities in real time.

“Single-player games will provide information like what missions you could do and what rewards you might receive for completing them—and all of those choices will be visible in the UI. As a player you just jump right into whatever you like.”

Cerny previously suggested that the PlayStation 5’s high-bandwidth SSD would have a significant impact on not just game content itself, but how users will be able to access it through the console.

“We’re very used to flying logos at the start of the game and graphic-heavy selection screens,” he said, “even things like multiplayer lobbies and intentionally detailed loadout processes, because you don’t want players just to be waiting.”

PS5 will also change Sony’s approach to storage, allowing players to configure installations and choose to install just a game’s multiplayer campaign, or delete the single-player campaign once completed.

Sony revealed the official PlayStation 5 hardware specifications this month and confirmed new features related to expandable storage and 3D audio.

PlayStation 5 will be backwards compatible with the majority of leading PS4 games when the console debuts later this year, lead system architect Cerny said in a video presentation.