Sony Working on VR Safe Space to Protect Players from Toxicity in Multiplayer Games

According to a newly published patent, Sony is working on a software application that would allow «personal space» boundaries for users to prevent unwanted interactions during online multiplayer in VR games. A number of recent Sony technology patents have focused on increased protection for players, and this latest in-development software would further the company's efforts to improve user safety.

One of the biggest names in gaming, Sony has been a powerhouse in technology for decades, offering a number of software and hardware products. As the company continues to work on expanding its presence in the video game industry, multiple patents have helped to reveal Sony's research and development efforts.

First filed back in August 2023, a recent patent publication details a new VR multiplayer «personal space» software that would allow Sony users to protect themselves from unwanted online interactions with specific avatars. The software focuses on VR gaming interactions and the potential for harassment, such as teabagging and bullying. This personal space software would allow users to create a virtual boundary or bubble around their online avatar, preventing unwanted users from entering this personal space. As such, players could protect themselves from unwanted interactions and ensure that their multiplayer experience is tailored to their preferences. However, it is key to note that patents are frequently filed by Sony and other companies, with a number of those patents never reaching users, so there is no guarantee that this software will actually be implemented.

As detailed in Figure 10A-10B of the Sony personal space software patent, the technology would utilize a «relationship score» to determine whether a personal zone needs to be activated. If a user avatar is deemed to have a negative relationship score with the player, a prompt will be given to the player to choose whether to allow that avatar into their personal zone, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. When a personal