If you've ever gotten stuck on a difficult boss fight, Microsoft might be preparing a solution: hand the controller to AI and… sit back and watch it play for you.
A newly discovered patent reveals that Microsoft is considering building a cloud-based assistance system that would allow players to transfer control of their Xbox session to an 'assistant' to help complete difficult segments.
The patent, titled 'State Management for Video Game Help Sessions,' describes a feature where players can request a temporary 'helper' to take full control of the game session. The document mentions that the helper could be a human, but also clarifies the possibility of using an AI model to perform much of the work.
This means it's not a mechanism similar to summoning other players in Dark Souls or asking for help in multiplayer games. In this scenario, the AI will actually take over and complete the difficult parts of the game for you.
The patent information emerged at a significant time for Microsoft's gaming division. The Xbox unit now has a new leader, Asha Sharma, following the departures of Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond from their executive positions.
Sharma recently drew attention when she declared she would not turn the Xbox ecosystem into a place overflowing with 'soulless AI', and asserted that she 'will not tolerate bad AI'.
However, it's worth noting that this patent was filed in 2024, before Sharma took over as CEO of Microsoft Gaming last month. Therefore, it remains unclear whether this project will continue to be developed under this new direction. If this feature is implemented, Microsoft might consider it an example of 'good AI' – AI that assists rather than ruins the experience.
Microsoft isn't alone in the trend of having AI play games instead of humans. Sony also filed a patent for a 'Ghost Player' assistant, capable of taking over games from players in certain situations.
However, as is often the case with corporate patent applications, this remains just an idea on paper. Tech corporations file thousands of patents each year to protect ideas, and the vast majority of them never become actual products.
Nevertheless, looking at current trends – where many companies promote delegating more and more tasks to AI and humans only playing a supervisory role – the likelihood of these kinds of features appearing in the future is not insignificant.
The biggest question probably isn't about the technical aspects, but about the experience. If AI completes difficult levels for you, will that detract from the sense of accomplishment – the core element of the game?
For some, this might be a helpful tool to avoid abandoning the game midway. But for gamers who consider challenge to be the soul of the game, sitting back and watching AI "beat the game for them" can significantly diminish the enjoyment.
The debate about AI in games will therefore not only revolve around technology, but also about the value of experience and the role of humans in the future of entertainment.