Sony Patents a Rewind Button to Help Gamers Recover from Mistakes

For years, emulator enthusiasts have enjoyed the convenience of save states, and now it looks like this feature might be making its way to gaming consoles. Sony has filed a patent hinting at a future PlayStation controller with a dedicated Save State button, as Tech4Gamers discovered on PatentScope. The document reveals, "The user is able to enter the rewind mode from the live game play using one or more controller inputs to view recent game play (e.g. rewinding, fast-forwarding, playing, etc.) and returning to live game play afterwards." However, it’s crucial to remember that not every patent results in an actual product.

For those familiar with emulators, the idea of a "rewind mode" immediately brings to mind the save and load state capabilities they offer. These days, even the Nintendo Switch Online’s retro games include save states and small rewind windows. However, unlike PC emulators that assign this feature to a key bind or the Switch’s custom button combinations, Sony envisions a dedicated Rewind button, potentially close to the D-Pad.

Interestingly, save states are not exclusive to emulators. In fact, the concept has been integrated into certain games directly. Take, for instance, the 2003 game Prince of Persia: Sands of Time. Released for PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Nintendo GameCube, it featured a mechanism allowing players to reverse time, undoing misfortunes involving enemies and environmental traps, reminiscent of system-level save state functionality.

However, it’s important to acknowledge that such a button, even if implemented at the system level, wouldn’t work for all games. Multiplayer games, for instance, which require synchronized game states across players and servers, wouldn’t be compatible. A button like this would be limited to single-player games. Some gamers, especially Soulsborne fans who relish fixed challenges, might view it as diminishing the gaming experience.

Want more updates and reviews? Subscribe to Tom’s Hardware’s newsletter for the best insights directly to your inbox.