Sony might develop a cloud gaming system - Page 2

"I believe the cloud will become the dominant way to play high performance video games"

After the jostling for podium positions at E3, OnLive has declared itself “the fourth platform” – and predicted that it will soon be No.1 for core gaming.



The cloud-based service, which launches in the UK this autumn, has been live in the US for almost a year.

CEO Steve Perlman told MCV: “What’s exciting at the moment is that in some ways we’ve been an emerging platform until now. First we had to prove it worked, then that it would work across a certain scale. Then we had to bulk out the offering and start getting day and date releases, and we’ve done all that. People are now treating us like the fourth platform and it’s great to finally be there.”

Looking ahead, he claimed that eventually cloud-based gaming would be the only viable environment for the industry’s showcase releases.

“I believe the cloud will become the dominant way to play high performance video games,” he said. “We showed a trailer on our booth at E3 for Arkham City and I asked everyone who saw it, which part do you think is live action and which is computer generated? The truth is, it’s all computer generated and no one I asked got that.

“That demo is a preview of what’s coming to OnLive. And there’s no possible way to have sufficient computing power locally to run gaming like that in real time. But we can in a data centre.

“Even a new console, a monster sitting in your living room, couldn’t handle this stuff. It just can’t be done.”

In a move that will rock the next generation of console gaming, Sony is close to agreeing an acquisition of a high profile cloud gaming firm, MCV understands.

It was reported earlier this week that Sony was to reveal a partnership with a cloud gaming firm – specifically either OnLive or Gaikai – at E3 next week.

Subsequent chatter had seemingly calmed the rumours, suggesting that the proposed agreement was to do with Sony streaming TV services, and not consoles.

However, MCV understands that the deal is far more extensive than anyone could have predicted and will see Sony fully acquire one of the two firms. The deal, our source says, “is close to being signed”.

The signs are pointing to an acquisition of Gaikai at the hands of Sony.

Yesterday MCV exclusively revealed that Sony was on the cusp of purchasing a high profile cloud gaming firm, thought to be either Gaikai or OnLive.

Now this morning Gaikai has sent out invitations to journalists for what it is heralding as a game-changing announcement.

“Gaikai has some major announcements in store for E3 that have the potential to change the future of video games, game consoles and how we play,” it reads.

It is unlikely that the deal means Sony is abandoning more traditional models for the PS4, but it does mean that it intends to diversify its offering. Expect disc-based games to soon become simply one option amongst many.

First and third-party games to be streamed to hardware

Sony's rumoured cloud gaming deal with Gaikai is to allow current-generation hardware to play PlayStation 2 and PSone games via a streaming solution, GamesIndustry International understands.

According to sources, the service will offer first-party games and be open to third-party publishers to sell back catalogue to players. The partnership is likely to be announced at E3 next week as part of Sony's conference on Monday.

Gaikai already has an extensive portfolio of video game partners that have been on board with CEO David Perry's vision since the service first went live, including Electronic Arts, Ubisoft and Capcom, but all titles so far have been for the PC format.