Club Benefits
AI is moving fast. Within the last month we've seen Gemini 3 Flash released and even AI upgrades to Gmail after over 20 years! But advancements in gaming are much more of a hot-button topic, sparking “passionate” debates between supporters and skeptics across the internet.
That tension has only intensified since Sony PlayStation created a patent aimed at reducing friction in gameplay by using AI assistance. Once you understand what the technology proposes, it’s easy to see why it hasn’t gone over well with longtime gamers who’ve spent years — or decades — honing their skills. Here's everything to know.
Letting AI take over kills the thrill of winning
According to the patent, PlayStation games could eventually play themselves through a feature called Ghost Assistance. In Guide Mode, players can set the controller down while the AI demonstrates how to solve a puzzle or approach a tough fight, then jump back in and try it themselves. Complete Mode goes further, clearing those challenges entirely before returning control.
As someone who practically came out of the womb with a gamepad in his hands, I understand why this idea rubs so many players the wrong way — even if I can also see how it might help.
Whenever I hit a brutal boss or brain-melting puzzle, dread sets in. After failed attempts, heavy breathing, and a few expletives I won’t repeat, finally breaking through delivers a rush that makes it all worth it. Hardcore gamers know that feeling well — and letting AI handle those moments means missing out on that hard-earned euphoria.
Casual players may not care. But Soulslike fans would scoff at anyone bragging about letting AI defeat Elden Ring’s Malenia for them. If you ask me, it’s better to rage quit, take a breather, and come back ready to die 20 more times — the victory is sweeter that way.
AI gameplay could create fake flexing — unless trophies are disabled
If this patent ever becomes reality on the PS5 or future PlayStation hardware, online gaming discourse could get even messier than it already is.
Just imagine your timeline being dominated by posts from random gamers posting clips of their near-flawless gameplay and not being able to tell if they were done by their own hands or because the AI-generated “ghost” did it for them. Sony could stop this nightmare scenario from coming to fruition with a simple fix — disable trophies for players that tap into the AI feature to do all the work.
That way, players still get the help they need, but they can’t take full credit for achievements earned by AI. It preserves bragging rights for honest playthroughs while discouraging fraudulent flexing.
Letting a Ghost Assistant solve a puzzle or two could help
I’ll be the first to admit I’ve pulled out my phone and searched YouTube for puzzle solutions more than once (yes, I needed help decoding those snow-region codes in Ghost of Yōtei — judge me).
With Ghost Assistance, players wouldn’t need to leave the game to get unstuck. Turning on Guide Mode could quickly nudge players past frustrating roadblocks without completely removing them from the experience. Used sparingly, that kind of assist could strike a healthy balance between accessibility and agency.
Bottom line
Sony’s AI patent has sparked plenty of backlash — and for understandable reasons. For many gamers, the idea of letting the game play itself feels fundamentally wrong.
But like most things in gaming, there’s a balance to be struck. Casual players may find exactly what they’re looking for in a feature like Ghost Assistance, while hardcore fans will likely ignore it entirely.
If this technology ever makes its way into the PS6, its real impact will depend on how — and how often — players choose to use it. Until then, it’s a fascinating glimpse into where gaming could be headed.
Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.
More from Tom's Guide
- Gmail’s biggest update in 20 years: 5 AI features that could change email forever
- AI is moving off screens — and into games, homes and even pet care
- I used ChatGPT Voice to prep for a job interview — and it helped me land the job
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
