Virtual spectator sports; it’s finally starting to look like the future.
Sony recently filed its latest patent application entitled “Spectator View Into An Interactive Gaming World Showcased In A Live Event Held In A Real-World Venue.” In the file, Sony described what appears to be the future of eSports viewing: an array of cameras that will make the user will feel as though they’re attending the actual tournament in person.
Users will be sitting in seats with cameras and microphones embedded into them, along with a proximity sensor to detect whether there are people actually sitting in the seats. Users will also be able to see the eSports game they’re watching from the inside, basically in the perspective of the eSports player. The ability to switch between audience mode and game mode will be available to the VR player for the full experience. There could also be a ‘hybrid mode’ that allows users to see the arena in a virtual augmented reality view, along with some elements of the game to make it more realistic.
With the rise of eSports, more and more companies have been trying to tap into it. Valve even has a spectator mode for those who want to watch the DOTA 2 international championships from the comforts of their own home. Sony’s goals are far higher though, aiming for a much wider range of games.
The patent includes a so-called “PlayStation Plus League” which could be a service that Sony is planning to introduce in the future.
