Microsoft Files Patent Application for In-Game AI Helper

Earlier this year, international patent application WO2026035323A1 was published. Assigned to Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC, the patent application relates to “video game help sessions” assisted by built-in AI helpers made to assist players through tricky parts of a game. The language in the patents relates to “inputs received from a client device of a video game helper” that can guide the player through their issue. Then, once the solution to their problem has been reached, they can either accept the “updated help session state” or revert their state to how they had it before activating the AI helper. 

While video game guides have been a part of the medium’s ecosystem since it was made available for consumers, the patent application implies far more nuanced help than you might find in an online walkthrough or book. The main use case, as shown below, appears to be allowing the AI to control the player character for a time. Even with the ability to revert back to the game state before the AI took over, software made with the parameters set out in this patent will give players a new choice: look up a video game guide or let the game guide them through a problem using its own software solution.