Sony could ban ‘inappropriate gestures’ on PSVR 2
And we’re not talking about dabbing
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A recently revealedSonypatent could allow thePlayStationmaker to shadow ban (or limit the actions of) users who make use of ‘inappropriate’ gestures, language and movements inPSVRsocial-themed titles in future.
Revealed earlier in May 2021 and reported on byUploadVR, the patent titled “Shadow Banning in Social VR Setting” was originally filed in late 2017. It won’t necessarily be used to ban players outright, but instead prevent their actions from being visible to others, similar to ‘block’ or ‘mute’ functions found on social media apps like Twitter.
According to the patent, the system works by identifying possible ‘griefers’ (in layman’s terms, a user that’s playing to deliberately worsen the experience of others). If the tracked user exceeds the safety rating threshold, then the system will initiate the shadow ban.
Sent to the shadow realm
It’s interesting that Sony’s shadow banning patent has come to light now, given that we’re now getting official details forPSVR 2, expected to release sometime in 2022. Sony could be interested in implementing the system for any games or apps with social components that might release on its second-generation VR hardware.
One such possibility is the revival of PlayStation Home, an ill-fated PS3 social media platform that recently saw itstrademark renewed. While a trademark renewal doesn’t necessarily mean PlayStation Home will see a refresh onPSVR2, it’s certainly the kind of experience that’s open to abuse by griefing users.
While some checks and balances will surely have to be implemented as Sony continues to push virtual reality into the mainstream, monitoring systems like this could be a cause for concern for privacy-minded users.
However, the patent looks to be squarely focused on multiplayer social VR apps, where actions like inappropriate hand gestures and strong language will have to be observed to curb toxicity. Hopefully, if the patent goes into full operation, Sony will be able to strike a balance between keeping users safe without encroaching on their personal privacy and security.
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Rhys is TRG’s Hardware Editor, and has been part of the TechRadar team for more than two years. Particularly passionate about high-quality third-party controllers and headsets, as well as the latest and greatest in fight sticks and VR, Rhys strives to provide easy-to-read, informative coverage on gaming hardware of all kinds. As for the games themselves, Rhys is especially keen on fighting and racing games, as well as soulslikes and RPGs.
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