Sony confirms Gaikai acquisition

Confirming MCV’s exclusive report last month, Sony has acquired cloud gaming firm Gaikai for $380m.

At the end of May, MCV revealed that Sony’s rumoured interested in cloud gaming tech went beyond what many had suspected and would lead to an acquisition.

Gaikai soon emerged as the front-runner, only for boss David Perry to completely deny the reports in the hours after E3.

This new deal sees Sony take ownership of Gaikai’s technology and infrastructure, including its network of datacentres. What Sony has not done, however, is specify precisely how the tech will be used – leaving the door open for some sort of PS4 launch service.

"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 CEO Andrew House stated.

"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."

Gaikai’s Perry added: "SCE has built an incredible brand with PlayStation and has earned the respect of countless millions of gamers worldwide.

"We’re honoured 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."

So – when will Microsoft’s deal to buy OnLive be confirmed, then?