Sony patents seamless switch from streaming to local game play
Sony describes a method where a user starts playing a game via streaming while the full version downloads in the background. Once the download finishes, the system creates a save file at the current moment and switches the user to the local version without stopping.
In the filing’s own words
A method can include, for executable content that a user has access to, providing a streaming instance of the executable content to a client device for immediate use, downloading a local instance of the executable content to the client device, and installing the local instance of the executable content on the client device. When the local instance of the executable content is installed and ready to run on the client device, the method includes selecting a swap-over point between the streaming instance and the local instance, creating a save file at the swap-over point, and downloading the save file to the client device. The method can also include running the local instance of the executable content in a mode that starts the executable content using the save file and transferring the user from the streaming instance to the local instance of to continue their use of the executable content.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A method of application execution comprising: for executable content that a user has access to: providing a streaming instance of the executable content to a client device of the user for immediate use; downloading a local instance of the executable content to the client device of the user; and installing the local instance of the executable content on the client device of the user; and when the local instance of the executable content is installed and ready to run on the client device: selecting a swap-over point between the streaming instance and the local instance of the executable content; at the swap-over point, creating a save file that enables resumption of the executable content from the swap-over point; downloading the save file to the client device of the user; running the local instance of the executable content in a mode that starts the executable content using the save file to start the executable content at the swap-over point; and transferring the user from the streaming instance of the executable content to the local instance of the executable content to continue their use of the executable content.
Facts
- Company
- Sony (Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.)
- Official title
- APPARATUS AND METHOD OF APPLICATION EXECUTION
- Publication number
- US20260319831A1
- Application number
- 19467143
- Filed
- Feb 2, 2026
- Published
- Oct 15, 2026
- Inventors
- 6
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
G06F 9/4856 Physics & computingA63F 13/355 Human necessitiesG06F 8/61 Physics & computingG06F 11/1446 Physics & computingMore from Sony in Games & media
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.