Microsoft patents a help system for Xbox capable of playing for you

The company proposes human or artificial intelligence assistants that can take temporary control.

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Microsoft is once again dropping hints about the future of the Xbox ecosystem, this time through a series of patents that describe an integrated help system capable of intervening directly in the game. The goal is to prevent players from having to exit the game to search for guides, videos, or forums when they get stuck in a difficult area.

The documents detail a cloud-based system that would allow previously authorized assistants (whether human or AI models) to enter your session on demand and take temporary control of the game to help you overcome a specific segment.

An Intelligent Help System for Xbox That Can Play for You

The main patent, titled “State Management For Video Game Help Sessions“, describes a system in which a pop-up window would ask the player if they want to hand over control to an assistant. Once accepted, the helper could control the character for a limited time and return control to the user when the help is finished.

Microsoft provides several examples: from an RPG where the assistant helps find a rare object, to a driving game where it overcomes a particularly difficult section. During the session, the helper could also communicate via chat to explain mechanics or strategies.

Additionally, other associated documents expand on the proposal. One of them suggests pairing players and assistants by age range to ensure suitable content. Another contemplates tracking achievements to determine who has actually achieved them. It also addresses filtering out disallowed actions and, finally, training machine learning models to act as assistants.

Microsoft considers current methods for seeking help to be “rudimentary” and indirect. With this idea, the company aims to integrate more natural assistance within the Xbox ecosystem itself, without disrupting the gaming experience.