Sony Patents a Rewind Feature to Assist Gamers in Challenging Moments

For years, save state functionality has been a staple in the world of emulators, and now it’s looking to make a leap to consoles. Recently, Sony filed a patent that suggests a future PlayStation controller might come with a special Save State button. Tech4Gamers caught wind of this through a legal document on PatentScope. The document mentions, “The user is able to enter the rewind mode from the live gameplay using one or more controller inputs to view recent gameplay (e.g., rewinding, fast-forwarding, playing, etc.) and returning to live gameplay afterwards.” However, it’s important to remember that not every patent turns into an actual product.

This “rewind mode” immediately brings to mind the save and load state functions familiar to emulator enthusiasts. Even Nintendo Switch Online’s retro games have incorporated options for saving states and brief rewinds. While PC emulators use key bindings and the Switch requires a custom button combo for this, Sony is considering a dedicated button for this purpose, most likely near the D-Pad for easy access.

In fact, a patent graphic titled “Gameplay Rewind With User Triggered Bookmarks” illustrates this button’s role, showing how it could bring up a control overlay, save states, and more. (Credit: Sony via Patentscope)

Beyond emulators, save states have had interesting uses in gaming history. Take, for instance, Prince of Persia: Sands of Time, a classic action-adventure game from 2003. It debuted on the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Nintendo GameCube. Central to its charm was the sands of time mechanic, letting players rewind time to avoid missteps or unwanted deaths, mirroring the rewind and save state uses in emulators.

It’s crucial to recognize that a button like this, even if integrated at the system level, won’t be compatible with all games. Multiplayer games, which depend on synchronized states across players and servers, can’t accommodate such a feature. This button would mainly be functional in single-player experiences, though some gamers argue it might dilute the challenge—particularly fans of tough-as-nails titles like those in the Soulsborne series.