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Late last night, Sony announced that it is currently completing a deal to purchase cloud-streaming service Gaikai for around $380 Million, adding a cloud-based gaming experience into the Sony arsenal as we begin transitioning into the next generation.
The ramifications of this deal are broad and swing from giving Sony the capability to going mostly all-digital for new games, to opening up the vast backlog of the Sony library for easy access by users.
Of the deal, Sony Computer Entertainment President Andrew House said,
"By combining Gaikai's resources including its technological strength and engineering talent with SCE's extensive game platform knowledge and experience, SCE will provide users with unparalleled cloud entertainment experiences.
"SCE will deliver a world-class cloud-streaming service that allows users to instantly enjoy a broad array of content ranging from immersive core games with rich graphics to casual content anytime, anywhere on a variety of internet-connected devices."
These benefits are also not just limited to what may come of the PS4. Gaikai, as a service, works over a variety of devices including phones and TV's as well, meaning that Sony will not be limited in the future to the architecture of their new console. Instead, by streaming games rather than installing them, they can offer their service to a wider variety of customers, and at the same time, solve the backward compatibility issue that can tend to raise the price of consoles by needing to add in additional hardware. Meaning, a PS4 -or even a PS3- with Gaikai installed will be able to play any game from the Sony library with no additional hardware.
It will probably still be a little while before we see exactly how the streaming service will be implemented into the Sony offerings, but it has the ability to really break open a large vault of content for even more users, and will be a great boon to Sony moving forward. I, for one, am excited.
Comments
11 years, 10 months ago
It'll be interesting to see how this affects both the current generation, however minute its remaining lifespan is, as well as the next one. Backwards compatibility seems to have taken a back seat and I'm hoping that can change with the PS4.
11 years, 10 months ago
I didn't think sony had the 380mil to spend
11 years, 10 months ago
dam that's a huge amount of money for Sony to spend....they will really need the ps4 to be a huge success. Didn't they lay off a lot of ppl not too long ago and had some higher ups get reduced wages?
I think its cool, but for the most part only affects Japan. Japan has a better internet infrastructure and can really take full use of fully streamed games. Places like the USA are long long long ways away from a stable internet infrastructure.
11 years, 10 months ago
This could be really interesting. See? These are things I am hoping to see in the next console generation. All the benefits of PC gaming without the hassle of PC gaming.
11 years, 10 months ago
It is a lot of money, but I think it is a good move on their part.
Personally, I don't like to have to install stuff on my hard drives to play them.
11 years, 10 months ago
The only way i can see them using this in their consoles is for older games as too many people will moan because uncharted 5 crofts manor has lower res when streamed. But this should make them tons of money outside of consoles
11 years, 10 months ago
This really plays into that article you guys had a while back about what David Jaffe was saying. Playstation as a console brand may go away after the next generation and become a Internet-HDTV integrated service.
11 years, 10 months ago
Hmm interesting idea from Sony I definitely would get some classics and some of my all time favourite games from previous generations however I am concerned on the amount of money Sony used to get this service it may backfire on them.
11 years, 9 months ago
yeah way to go sony, spending shit tons of money when you are already in financial trouble. This will never come back to bite them in the ass in the future.
11 years, 9 months ago
[...] Cloud-streaming download service Gaikai is now under the roof of Sony. Gaikai gives gamers all sorts of games to download (most, if not all, since I’m not familiar with the site, of them being free) and play anywhere they can access the server. Sony has yet to announce anything more about the deal, but speculation is sky high. Is Sony going to use Gaikai for the PlayStation 4 and go all digital download? Another interesting theory is that you won’t have to buy a new console from Sony, and the PS3 will be able to stream and download thousands of older games (PS1, PS2, and PS3 titles) as well as brand new ones. I think it’s an exciting time for Sony, and I hope they do something right with this acquisition. (Source: 4 Player Podcast) [...]