Monday, July 2nd 2012
Sony to Acquire Cloud Gaming Company Gaikai
Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) today announced that it entered into a definitive agreement on June 30, 2012 (Japan Time) to acquire Gaikai Inc., the world's leading interactive cloud-based gaming company, for approximately USD 380 million. Through the acquisition, SCE will establish a new cloud service, ensuring that it continues to provide users with truly innovative and immersive interactive entertainment experiences.
"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," said Andrew House, President and Group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. "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."
"SCE has built an incredible brand with PlayStation and has earned the respect of countless millions of gamers worldwide," said David Perry, CEO of Gaikai Inc. "We're honored to be able to help SCE rapidly harness the power of the interactive cloud and to continue to grow their ecosystem, to empower developers with new capabilities, to dramatically improve the reach of exciting content and to bring breathtaking new experiences to users worldwide."
Established in 2008 and headquartered in Aliso Viejo, California, Gaikai has developed the highest quality, fastest interactive cloud-streaming platform in the world that enables the streaming of quality games to a wide variety of devices via the internet. With this acquisition, SCE will establish a cloud service and expand its network business by taking full advantage of Gaikai's revolutionary technology and infrastructure including data centers servicing dozens of countries and key partners around the world.
The transaction is subject to certain regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.
SCE will continue to aggressively expand a new world of entertainment through the introduction of innovative technologies and the delivery of amazing experiences.
"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," said Andrew House, President and Group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. "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."
Established in 2008 and headquartered in Aliso Viejo, California, Gaikai has developed the highest quality, fastest interactive cloud-streaming platform in the world that enables the streaming of quality games to a wide variety of devices via the internet. With this acquisition, SCE will establish a cloud service and expand its network business by taking full advantage of Gaikai's revolutionary technology and infrastructure including data centers servicing dozens of countries and key partners around the world.
The transaction is subject to certain regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.
SCE will continue to aggressively expand a new world of entertainment through the introduction of innovative technologies and the delivery of amazing experiences.
27 Comments on Sony to Acquire Cloud Gaming Company Gaikai
Still, don't like it. Likely because I know how it will be advertised. "Secure, easy, and worry free." Those words to me mean..."hackable, because we know consumers are idiots, and reassure the morons so they don't ask what happens when the net goes down."
Not sure how it will take the fun and/or hobby out of pc gaming. I feel it'll make it an easier transition, try games before you buy them. I imagine demos will kind of be revolutionized through streaming services.
Remember all you're doing is streaming the game, even a Roku or something similar should be able to do this.
Hell if levels buffered at the beginning of a level and took 2-3 minutes per level it wouldn't even be such a big deal to even break into a market like this.
Edit: Checking out the Gaikai website, they recommend 5 mbps as well.
Don't get me wrong there will probably be some bad services offered with this technology but someone will get it right. It likely is the future of gaming in general to be cloud based as it will eventually cut costs to the manufacturer while slowly making its way to the consumer.
I personally prefer to have my own system, but I've accepted that technology will likely transition in such a way.
I do agree though that games will likely transition to cloud based services, I will accept that but personally I prefer having my own hard-copy when/if possible. I also get 150GB a month and it is a shared household so things could get interesting towards the end of the month :/
If anyone payed attention to E3 Gaikai & Nvidia were testing their GRID.
Dedicated line to Datacenter 10 miles away just for E3.
Internal latency was 10ms (Time it took from receiving to process to send)
User to DataCenter latency was 100ms (This will only get worse in the real world from User to DataCenter)
They mentioned they only have limited testing with a max of 40 people and are still try'n to get latency down. I dont see it getting much better if the numbers are that bad with a dedicated line in controlled testing.
peaks 1,5mb on steam
There are benefits such as a bigger push for faster internet and more bandwidth.
Imagine though:
Play video games on demand with the ease of flipping a channel. The playstation 5 delivers top-tier games over the Internet to your TV, so you can play instantly on the biggest screen in the house.
Wait... thats onlivesstatement.
Onlive isn't mainstream right now. May never be. But with the playstation or xbox branding it would sell better. Especially when in the future there is faster internet... I hope.