Activision Games May Let Spectators Influence Players’ Gameplay

Activision has recently published a patent that wants to further dynamize the relationship between the spectators and players in games. The patent talks about actively involving the spectators with the streamer of a multiplayer game. In other words, the viewers who are not currently playing the game and instead watching others can alter their gameplay.

The patent dubbed “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ENABLING REMOTE VIEWERS TO PARTICIPATE IN A MULTI-PLAYER VIDEO GAME PLAY SESSION” will grant spectators the ability to influence in-game events in real-time while watching a live stream of a multiplayer title. It will let viewers use a voting system to select which event happens for the user who is currently playing the game, allowing them to actively participate.

The present specification describes systems and methods that enable non-players to participate as spectators in online video games and, through a collective voting mechanism, determine the occurrence of certain events or contents of the gameplay in real time,” reads the patent.

Activision argues that the current relationship between spectators and players is not as dynamic as it can be. Viewers who prefer watching gameplay are currently limited in how they can engage with or provide input to the user.

There is also a need for systems and methods that encourage live participation from viewers and that also keep online or remote spectators engaged. Such a system would not only allow the users to participate as spectators in video games, but also enable them to contribute towards the events or contents of the gameplay in real time.”

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Activision clarifies that each viewer of the gameplay will receive a menu with all the choices for possible gameplay events listed. Each user can vote for their favorite choice, and the gaming event generated as a result would cater to the most-voted option. The user playing the game could be affected in various ways depending on the gaming event.

The company notes that it can range from natural disasters, such as “earthquakes, meteor showers, storms, rain, wind, fires, lightning,” and more. The gameplay can also be altered by less harmful or even beneficial changes for the player. Moreover, spectators can also receive rewards for participating in viewing the gameplay, as per the patent. 

All in all, we suggest taking the patent with a grain of salt; the publisher may never decide to integrate it into any of its upcoming games after all. Activision has previously secured a similar patent to make the gameplay more intuitive, patenting to let non-MVPs decide and control specific bonus matches for MVPs of the round.