A new patent suggests future PlayStation games could enjoy picture quality similar to that of Nvidia's deep learning super sampling technology. Nvidia's DLSS, available exclusively using the company's GPU products, uses deep learning to automatically upscale low-resolution images into a higher quality. PlayStation consoles do not currently have an equivalent to DLSS, meaning games like God of War can use Nvidia DLSS on PC to achieve a much higher resolution than the title's original PlayStation version.

Companies often file patents for new ideas, with massive companies like Sony annually filing many patents to protect potential innovations. With Sony releasing the PlayStation 5 in November 2020, a number of patents have been filed that could hint at the console's future. Recently the patent blueprints for the PlayStation 5 itself were released, giving interested fans a clear look at the new-generation console's inner workings. The blueprints notably detailed the console's cooling system, which help it to remain at operational temperature while also running very demanding modern titles. A more interesting patent, filed in April 2021, involves an artificial intelligence system within PlayStation games - which could potentially play games for the player by studying and mimicking their style.

Related: PlayStation 5 Patent Shows Exactly How Sony's Console Works

A report from MP1st describes a recently-filed patent that could implement technology similar to Nvidia's DLSS into PlayStation consoles. Essentially, the rendering method would give each pixel the same material identifier, meaning missing pixels would not be easily noticeable. This would be much faster and more energy-efficient than using machine learning processes, which are slower and require more power to function. The patent proposes a two-part filing process, which begins by filling missing pixels and then uses machine learning as needed. While a filed patent by no means guarantees this technology will ever see the light of day, it would allow PlayStation consoles to compete with Nvidia's DLSS.

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Additional PlayStation patents have been filed since the launch of the PlayStation 5, teasing the possibility of even more advanced gaming technology arriving in the future. One particularly notable patent, filed in March 2021, would allow PlayStation VR to use different scents in order to more fully immerse players in their gaming experiences. Virtual reality gaming continues to grow in popularity, with specialized headsets and controllers pulling players further and further into the gaming world. Sony's patent details theoretical technology which would release two competing scents that could then mix to create a very specific smell.

Patents are frequently filed in the technology world, with the documentation preventing the overlap or theft of any profitable ideas. Due to this, it is likely that Sony will never actually implement PlayStation's DLSS competitor into its console line. However, the use of the detailed two-part filing system could also become a reality, giving consoles graphical power that is much more comparable to powerful PCs. Only time will tell whether PlayStation receives this advanced graphical power in the future.

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Source: MP1st