Is Sony's Adaptive Difficulty A Good Idea?

Sony has been reported to be considering adding adaptive difficulty to all of its games. This feature would likely allow gamers to play more difficult games that usually have a skilled player barrier and also make it so hardcore gamers can get a good experience out of typically easier games.

[shinoff2183]

I don't see an issue. I'm also sure it'd be an option that you could turn off to.

[jambola]

If optional yes
if not, awful idea

[ApocalypseShadow]

It should be optional but it would be more interesting to see gamers play more advanced AI. It's been a request since the beginning that NPCs and bots were more intelligent and tougher and not be stupid cannon fodder. This AI I'm guessing will adapt to the player. Which is cool. If the gamer sucks, the AI will suck. If the gamer is a bad ass, the AI will kick some ass and take names.

Based on GT7 Sophy, AI will definitely give gamers a run for their money.

[jambola]

sure
but I also don't ever want a case of playing a game I want to be hard, but then it get's easier because I die too much and removes that option
if it's 100% optional, I'm all for it
even ai adapting I'm not against
just any crap like, "you died too much so boss will suck to let you win easier" crap

[Noskypeno]

Yeah like everyone said, it should be optional. Sometimes I like to relax from the competitive mp and play a single player that's challenging but in a predictable way. I'll probably use it at times but sometimes I just want to have a soldier yell grenade 5 seconds before he throws it at you in perfect English.

[ZeekQuattro]

I don't have a problem with it. A number of games do this already depending on your playstyle.

[ChasterMies]

Yes, duh.

[porkChop]

If you can turn it off? Sure. If it's forced, no it's a terrible idea. Imagine wanting a tougher experience but because you die a few times the game lowers the difficulty. That kind of defeats the purpose of the harder difficulty.

[Profchaos]

Max Payne 1 had adaptive difficulty and we survived.

Here's the code for the fugitive difficulty that shows the adaptively states

I don't see Sony making anything dramatically different you need indicators to base the players performance on and if they are failing over and over adapt enemy damage or something to help

[difficulty] // FUGITIVE

[properties]
SaveGameLimit = 0;
IntermediateLevels = 2;
HealthGainedFromPainkiller = 20%;
DeathFrequency = 180;
FrequentDeaths = 5;

[minimum]
EnemyHealthMultiplier = 0.25;
AmmoFoundMultiplier = 2.0;
PlayerHealthMultiplier = 2.0;
AutoAimCapsuleRadiusMultiplie r = 8.0;
AutoAimCapsuleHeightMultiplie r = 3.0;
HealthRegenerateMultiplier = 6%;
HealthGainedImmediately = 10%;
BulletTimeGainedPerKillMultip lier = 1.3;

[default]
EnemyHealthMultiplier = 0.8;
AmmoFoundMultiplier = 1.0;
PlayerHealthMultiplier = 1.0;
AutoAimCapsuleRadiusMultiplie r = 4.0;
AutoAimCapsuleHeightMultiplie r = 2.0;
HealthRegenerateMultiplier = 4%;
HealthGainedImmediately = 5%;
BulletTimeGainedPerKillMultip lier = 1.0;

[maximum]
EnemyHealthMultiplier = 1.2;
AmmoFoundMultiplier = 1.0;
PlayerHealthMultiplier = 0.4;
AutoAimCapsuleRadiusMultiplie r = 2.0;
AutoAimCapsuleHeightMultiplie r = 1.5;
HealthRegenerateMultiplier = 2%;
HealthGainedImmediately = 3%;
BulletTimeGainedPerKillMultip lier = 0.7;

https://steamcommunity.com/...

[sagapo]

Maybe depending on the game? But how would you know you get better and make progress skillwise at a game if the difficulty keeps adapting?

I’m not a fan of this adapting, or level scaling for that matter.

[ravens52]

Idc. It's just not for me 🤷🏾

[Stuart5756]

If it works: yes. If it doesn't: no.

We all like a challenge but hair pulling, stress inducing, throw the controller at the wall isn't what I'm looking for.

[EvertonFC]

"is Sony's Adaptive Difficulty A Good Idea?"

Well I payed £55 for Bloodborne and ONLY got to the boss inside the church with the poison and I would love to be able to change the adaptive difficulty so I could progress in the game.
It will certainly have it's uses for sure but agree as long as it's an option.
Also has everyone forgot we used to play lots of games with cheat codes back in the PS1/2 days, no different really just another way of doing it ie; turn it on in settings rather than press triangle, square, X etc from the magazines.
I knew loads of playstation gamers who unlocked all the cheat codes first play through and never died once as they preferred to enjoy and beat the game rather than die loads.

[Psychonaut85]

Yeah to second the others, so long as it’s something you can toggle on/off, bring it on. If not, f$&k no.

[HellspawnPR1981]

Nah, git gud or move along. If you just want to go through the mottions, go watch a TV show.

[EvertonFC]

Gaming isn't about kicking ass and being a PRO, it's about enjoying the game and having fun. Might want to remember that 😂🤣
As long as options cater to both I'm fine. Do you get insecure you might downgrade the difficulty level if the option is there ? I'm guessing you have 🤗

[HellspawnPR1981]

Not at all but part of the experience of games is overcoming a challenge. I recognize my limitations when I can't beat a game and I don't cry about it and demand the world adjusts to me.

[Einhander1972]

I assume this is a more generalized version of Sophy AI, which is the only legitimate use of AI as far as I'm concentered.

Sophy is there to give players a good challenge from an NPC that behaves similar to a real human opponent.

Sophy makes games better for players without putting anyone out of a job, I would welcome games with AI opponents that provide a better challenge without feeling unfair.

[BrainSyphoned]

Oops we turned up the difficulty too much. Have you checked for powerups on the Sony Store? If not here is a helpful pop-up to help you adapt to our adaptive difficulty levels.

No way this isn't going to end up scummy as hell.