Adaptive difficulty

Good Morning. Wait, it is Tuesday? Happy birthday to R.K. from South Korea. We appreciate your continued support since edition #003.

— Tim Rhyne, Jason Liu

MAIN QUEST: Sony makes it hard to fail

Sony has filed a patent for a system that would dynamically adjust a game's difficulty based on a player's performance. This innovative approach involves algorithms that fine-tune difficulty settings, adapting to an individual's skill level as they play. The patent, accessible through the World Intellectual Property Organization, highlights Sony's commitment to advancing gaming technology and personalizing player experiences. Despite the concept being somewhat familiar in the gaming industry, Sony's specific implementation of this idea stands out — no blanket increase or decrease in difficulty but rather tuning of discrete mechanics, like reaction time.

In related news, Sony is also working on an enhanced DualSense controller design with "predictive AI assistance features." This new controller design would offer interactive elements like lighting up or moving buttons and sticks to guide players when they're stuck in a game.

Step back: It’s no secret that if players are frustrated with game difficulty, their time spent on the game will be short-lived. Making sure that there’s always forward progress is a great way to improve retention/.

HUD

• 😤 YouTuber "The Completionist” is under investigation for charity fraud amounting to over $600,000 intended for dementia research. The allegations are already having an effect on their reputation with Sabotage Studios removing Khalil’s cameo in Sea of Stars.

• 👎️ Activision Blizzard settled its 2021 lawsuit regarding unequal employment practices on the basis of sex with the California Civil Rights Department for $56 million. The California CRD will be withdrawing allegations of systemic harassment as a part of the settlement.

• 🏴‍☠️ Iron Lung’s indie developer raised the price from $6 to $8. In response to the backlash, he tells people who don’t agree to “Go pirate it or something.”

MAJOR W

• 📈 ATLUS announced their Persona 5 series has passed 10 million units sold. This comes 7 years after the original Japanese release.

• 🎨 Will Brown received permission to release art from an unreleased title believed to be the TimeSplitters Reboot that was canceled alongside Free Radical’s closure.

F IN THE CHAT

• 😢 Actor James McCaffrey passed from cancer at 65. He voiced many notable roles in games including Max Payne and Alex Casey in Alan Wake 2.

• 🏢 Activision’s full return to office mandate is coming in January and is resulting in soft layoffs. ABK Workers Alliance released a statement on the decision saying “A one-size-fits-all mandate harms us all.”

CAREER CORNER

• Senior Concept Artist — Boss Fight Entertainment (Remote, US)

• Marathon Principal Communications Manager — Bungie (Hybrid, US)

• Marketing and Community Manager — Elsewhere (San Francisco, CA)

HIVE MIND

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