PS6, Xbox Project Helix Updates: New Microsoft and Sony Patents Detail Ad Rentals and Contactless Payments

New patents filed by Sony and Microsoft have hinted at possible features for the PlayStation 6 and Xbox Project Helix, including an ad-supported system for temporary game access and a contactless-style payment method for the PlayStation Store.

The patents were spotted earlier this week, according to GamingBible, and neither company has confirmed that the ideas will become features of its next-generation consoles. The PlayStation 6 and Xbox Project Helix also have no set release windows, although 2027 and 2028 have been rumoured as possible years for the next generation.

PlayStation 6 and Project Helix Patent Details

For context, Microsoft's patent concerns a proposed system that could allow Xbox users to gain limited access to games after watching an advert. IGN reported that the patent is titled 'Contextually aware management of interactive software application access'.

Under the proposal, a game could pause during key moments and display 'audiovisual promoted content'. The wording is technical, but the basic idea is straightforward enough. A player would watch an advert and receive a credit that could then be used to access a game for a limited period.

The proposed access window ranges from 15 minutes to one hour. Importantly, this is a patent for a proposed system, not an announcement that Microsoft plans to introduce adverts into Xbox games or make this model part of Project Helix.

Sony's patent takes a different approach, focusing on purchases rather than game access.

PlayStation 6 Payment Patent Explained

As reported by Insider Gaming, Sony filed a patent describing a system that could allow future PlayStation controllers to act as payment devices for purchases on the PlayStation Store.

The proposed process would let a player browse the store on their console and then bring a smartphone close to the controller when they are ready to pay. The phone would be used to verify the transaction, in a process the source compares with using a contactless card machine.

After confirmation, an on-screen prompt would indicate that the payment had been completed. The system could also allow people who do not have payment information stored on their console to use a smartphone payment app such as Apple Pay or Google Pay.

The patent has also been discussed in the context of physical media. GamingBible notes that some PlayStation fans remain upset about the decision to discontinue physical discs for games released in 2028 and beyond. The article argues that another patent centred on digital PlayStation Store purchases could be viewed as further movement towards an all-digital future.

Microsoft's proposal raises a separate issue. GamingBible also points to existing pushback from gamers over the idea that players do not necessarily own the games they access, arguing that an advertising-supported rental system could conflict with those concerns.

There is, however, a major caveat to both proposals. Patents do not guarantee that the technology described will reach a commercial product, let alone the PlayStation 6 or Project Helix.

For now, Microsoft and Sony have not confirmed these systems for their next-generation consoles. Information on the next Xbox and PlayStation consoles is also not expected this year, leaving both patents firmly in the category of possible ideas rather than confirmed features.