This page covers 5 granted patents across the Monetization & Business Models category, filed by Betty Gaming (1), King.Com (1), Sony (1), Tencent (1), and Ag 18 (1).
The patents span a range of technologies centered on reward systems, blockchain-based asset ownership, and social engagement mechanics. Tencent's patent covers a dynamic reward system that adjusts in-game resource bonuses according to player skill during seasonal events, while King.Com's patent describes a social notification system that alerts friends when players are stuck on match-3 levels. Sony, Ag 18, and Betty Gaming contribute patents related to blockchain technology, including decentralized in-game item ownership with cross-platform transfer capabilities, a peer-to-peer real-money gaming platform with cryptocurrency wagering and virtual item marketplace integration, and a cross-game loyalty system with a universal progress bar for centralized reward redemption.
Tencent received 1 patent covering a reward system that scales resource bonuses dynamically based on where a player ranks during seasonal competitive events. Rather than distributing identical rewards to every participant regardless of ability, the system ties the quantity of in-game resources a player receives directly to their individual skill level, so higher-ranked players receive proportionally adjusted bonuses. This approach creates personalized progression incentives that reflect each player's actual standing within competitive modes like MOBAs.
Sony received 1 patent describing a blockchain-based architecture designed to give players direct ownership over in-game items without requiring a central publisher to manage or authorize transactions. The system separates the tracking of who owns an item from the description of what that item actually is, distributing those functions across multiple blockchains so that no single company holds control over the marketplace. Item types are assigned at creation through a weighted modulo mechanism that handles probability distribution without relying on centralized servers, offering a decentralized approach to managing loot and drop economies.
Betty Gaming received 1 patent for a cross-game loyalty system that consolidates player progress from multiple different games into a single, unified progress bar. Because different games operate on different mechanics, the system applies game-specific weighting to normalize activity into one common metric, allowing players to accumulate and redeem rewards through a central hub regardless of which game on the platform they happen to be playing.
King.Com received 1 patent for a social notification mechanism that automatically alerts a player's friends when that player gets stuck on a level in a match-3 game. Rather than treating a failed attempt as a purely private experience, the system converts that moment of difficulty into a trigger for outreach, creating an opportunity for friends to step in with assistance. That assistance, in turn, functions as both a retention tool and a monetization pathway.
Ag 18 received 1 patent for a peer-to-peer gaming platform that combines skill-based competition with real-money wagering supported by multiple currency types, including fiat currency, cryptocurrency, and virtual items. Blockchain technology underpins the platform's tracking of virtual item ownership, providing an immutable record of who holds what across transactions. The system also accommodates real-time betting by spectators watching competitive matches, folding that feature into the same marketplace infrastructure that handles item trading and wagers between players.
All data sourced from USPTO patent filings. Google Patents may take several weeks to index recent publications. If a link is unavailable, search for the patent number at USPTO Patent Public Search.