Cloud gaming is surely expected to take a new turn now that Sony has announced the acquisition of Gaikai for a big sum of 380 million USD. It has been announced that SCE will use this acquirement in order to set up a whole new cloud service of its own.
Cloud gaming, as many know, allows players to stream titles through Internet as opposed to making use of physical or digital copies. Gaikai has been operational since 2008, enabling gamers to use cloud-streaming to play a variety of titles on various devices. Following the acquisition process, Sony plans on expanding its network business by taking ‘full advantage’ of Gaikai’s technology and infrastructure.
David Perry, CEO of Gaikai, revealed, “SCE has built an incredible brand with PlayStation and has earned the respect of countless millions of gamers worldwide. 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.”
Services similar to Gaikai’s are also offered by a number of other such networks, the most prominent amongst them being OnLive. Using the OnLive game system which consist of an adapter and a wireless controller, gamers are able to jump into hardcore titles like Batman: Arkham City and Assassin’s Creed: Revelations on supported TV sets, PCs, Macs and even tablets.
What Sony’s purchase of Gaikai means for gaming is still pretty unclear. Integration with the PS3, PS Vita or even Sony’s television sets seems to be the obvious option. Let’s wait and see how the Japanese giant’s foray into cloud gaming turns out.