Sony Computer Entertainment acquires Gaikai

Sony Computer Entertainment today announced it has acquired Gaikai, “the world’s leading” cloud-based gaming company, on June 30 for 380 million U.S. dollars. It plans on establishing a new cloud service through the acquisition, which will take “full advantage of Gaikai’s revolutionary technology and infrastructure” including “data centers servicing dozens of countries and key partners around the world.”

“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.”

It was heavily rumored before E3 that Sony would announce a Gaikai acquisition, though even Gaikai boss David Perry denied such a buyout. Rumored use of Gaikai’s services included PS2 and PSone game streaming.