According to the reports, Sony Interactive Entertainment has successfully applied for a patent for the path construction mechanism in Death Stranding. The patent was filed four months before the release of Death Stranding on PS4 and was approved just on Tuesday. It is titled Terrain Radar and Gradually Constructing Routes in the Virtual Environment of Video Games and mentions According to [ ……] The number of times one or more characters traverse the first path to improve the first path.
This patent protects one of the most innovative features in Death Stranding. For example, if multiple people walk on the same path, a real path will appear on the grass; the player can see the buildings, objects, and marks left by others. Cards, etc., can also open roads, build bridges, and leave items for other players who visit the same area in the future.
The acquisition of this patent may make it difficult for other developers to use similar systems in their games unless they obtain Sony’s permission. This is not the first time a publisher has applied for a patent for a game mechanism. Earlier this year, after Warner Bros. successfully obtained the patent for Middle-earth: Shadow Modo, it was criticized by some developers.
The patent covers a system that features procedurally generated NPCs that exist in a hierarchical structure, can interact with the player and remember their behavior. Currently, any such system is actually the property of Warner Bros. Games.