Audiophile gamers may have a reason to celebrate, as the US Patent and Trademark Office just published a trademark filed by Sony Corporation for "Hi-Res Audio."

In this case we already know what the trademark is about, as apparently the trademark publication was delayed by bureaucracy. It's a 24-bit digital audio format already used in a commercial audio devices that promises a closer experience to a live performance or to an analog record. The principle is pretty much the same of high resolution video and Sony actually has a web page up explaining it in some depth.

What's really interesting is that the trademark includes class 9, which is the class used for games, and the blurb explicitly mentions "computer game programs for home video game machines" and "hand-held games with liquid crystal displays."

While Sony did not make an official announcement on the issue, the trademark could indicate that support for Hi-Res audio formats may be coming to the PS4 and the PS Vita. Of course we'll keep you posted if anything will be shared offcially.