Save state features have been a staple in the emulation community for quite some time, and it looks like they might be making their way to gaming consoles. Recently, Sony submitted a patent for a PlayStation controller design that includes a special Save State button. This was discovered in a legal document by Tech4Gamers on PatentScope. The document notes, “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 crucial to remember that not every patent turns into an actual product.
For emulator users, the concept of a “rewind mode” sounds very familiar, reminiscent of the save and load state abilities commonly found in these applications. Even the retro games available on Nintendo Switch Online now support save states and a small rewind window. Unlike PCs, where these functions are often mapped to a key, or the Switch, where they might be accessed via a specific button combination, Sony seems keen on adding a dedicated button for this feature, probably nearby the D-Pad.
Outside the realm of emulators, both official and not, save states find their places in certain gaming experiences, transcending the usual save files. Take, for example, the captivating Prince of Persia: Sands of Time from 2003. This action-adventure game, first launched on PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Nintendo GameCube, introduced the sands of time mechanic, which allowed players to rewind time and correct fatal mistakes. This concept bears similarities to the save state feature in emulators where users can reverse unfortunate events.
It is essential to point out, though, that a button dedicated to this feature won’t be universally applicable to all games. Multiplayer games that rely on real-time synchronization between players or with servers cannot accommodate such functionality. Its use would be limited to single-player games, and some fans may assert it’s not suitable for all genres. Fans of challenging games like Soulsborne might argue that such functionality could disrupt the intended difficulty level.
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