Breaking Reaction: What if Microsoft Bought OnLive?

With the recent report that OnLive is undergoing a buyout by an unknown party, who seemingly let go of over half of the team’s staff straight away, it makes everyone wonder just who purchased the struggling cloud based service. As Sony have only just acquired cloud based streaming company Gaikai, and GameStop has been releasing information about their upcoming cloud service with Spawn Labs – could the mysterious procurer have been Microsoft? Or could another party just have scooped them up under everyone’s nose? - PSLS

[Foolsjoker]

This could be big, microsoft really has the most to gain by picking up OnLive

[Nitrowolf2]

been confirmed already that it's not MS

[BitbyDeath]

Got a link?

[Nitrowolf2]

sorry
here
http://kotaku.com/5935876/o...

[Knight_Crawler]

How did you get its not MS from that statement?

"We can now confirm that the assets of OnLive, Inc. have been acquired into a newly-formed company and is backed by substantial funding, and which will continue to operate the OnLive Game and Desktop services, as well as support all of OnLive's apps and devices, as well as game, productivity and enterprise partnerships. The new company is hiring a large percentage of OnLive, Inc.'s staff across all departments and plans to continue to hire substantially more people, including additional OnLive employees. All previously announced products and services, including those in the works, will continue and there is no expected interruption of any OnLive services.

We apologize that we were unable to comment on this transaction until it completed, and were limited to reporting on news related to OnLive's businesses. Now that the transaction is complete, we are able to make this statement."

Just becuase it says a newly formed company that does not mean that its not a oompany that MS started or owns.

"and is backed by substantial funding," from that statement this is telling me that who ever bought already had tons of money and it not a new company that just got into the market.

Maybe MS does not want Onlive to clash with it Xbox brand so they are keeping OnLive apart by purchasing it under a different company name.

[ABizzel1]

Gaikai: Runs games in mid - high settings (unless setting tweaks are allowed), 30fps, 720p, crisp images, and slightly below console input lag (133ms - 217ms)

Online: Runs games in low - mid settings (unless setting tweaks are allowed), 60fps, HD, iffy image quality (sometimes good, sometimes murky), and consistent but slightly below console input lag (133ms - 283ms).

While the controller lag seems worse than Gaikai, it's more consistent. A game may have an awful 200ms lag on Online or a console like 133ms lag, but it's going to be that way for the generally the entire game. However, Gaikai tries to stay consistent, but wavers much more than Onlive.

So both have their perks. If you want a near console like experience than Gaikai is for you, and also Gaikai has the bonus of being upgraded to a video streaming / music streaming / and any other streaming service.

If you want 60fps and consistent controls then Onlive is for you. But expanding Onlive with video / music / et.... will take a lot more work than Gaikai requires.

[BitbyDeath]

Thanks Nitro

[morkendo23]

could be GOOGLE?

[turgore]

Exactly. Google used Onlive to showcase their Google fiber internet connection.

[palaeomerus]

I'm pretty sure it was Pepsi. Onlive will now have new free games that are paid for by lots of ad breaks (every 45 minutes or so) about pepsi.

[Emilio_Estevez]

Well what if Valve? That would make it even more interesting.

[BrutallyBlunt]

Yes it would. Doesn't make much sense for Microsoft. Apple and Electronic Arts also make more sense than Microsoft.

[ALLWRONG]

Why would Valve need Onlive?

[ftwrthtx]

Could Nintendo be in the mix?

[doctorstrange]

They should
But I doubt it.

[greenpowerz]

Yes and it would give them a huge advantage. I would be proud of Nintendo. I've made a few comments along these lines today. Would Nintendo dare invest outside the box with expensive risks? hope so.

[Belking]

It's probably MS. They have more to gain than anyone else.

[greenpowerz]

Monthly subscriptions to a library of games instead of purchasing games individually in economic hardship. Not much though :p

[PinkPartyPony]

I would rather Valve brought it.

Huge Library of PC Titles = Check
Huge Community = Check

These were my 2 biggest problems with Onlive.

[ChunkyLover53]

The only reason Microsoft would buy OnLive would be to get the patents for their own service, I doubt they would actually keep the company because it loses money each month.

[doctorstrange]

Which is why this buyer has apparently already fired over 50% of the staff.

[Somebody]

Here' my theory : It's Apple. Apple TV is coming out and they need something to accompany it to storm the console dominated living rooms.

[Knight_Crawler]

You know you might be right. Apple has been on a spending spree this year on buying patents, they are in the race to buy ah boat load of patents for Kodak.

Also Onlive is worth 2 billion dollars and they only people I see having that type of money is Apple and MS.

[ALLWRONG]

There are probably 1000 different corporations or people who can afford to buy Onlive.

[whoyouwit04]

yhea, why i do hope it's microsoft i really do beleive its apple.

[Somebody]

Now that I think about it....maybe it's Sony all along. Using a phony front and buying Onlive anonymously only to tear it apart so it won't pose any significant danger to Gaikai and PS4. Just enough to keep the anti-trust guys from sniffing around.

Maybe.

[sandman224]

Oh great another what if article. Who wrote this a 10 year old. Let's hear more gaming news not a what if. Jeez people.

[doogiebear]

It's not like he's pretending to state facts. A little speculation is healthy for this industry. Case in point: I remember when BOTH Sony and Gaikai were telling people that the rumors of a merger were untrue, and that Sony had never even talked to them about it. Fast forward 2 or 3 months later, and now Sony buys Gaikai. Perhaps the very speculation, and the excitement it brought to playstation fans, is exactly the reason why Sony went for the purchase even though they never thought of doing it before. If they really were gonna merge pre-speculation, then they wouldnt lie about having never even speaking to each other, because that lie wouldve cost them dearly if (say) Microsoft decided to buy Gaikai after hearing the (formerly) debunked rumors.

[8bitHero]

that would suck. hope it wasnt them

[sugadaddy]

I love how the only time OnLive creates any buzz is when they're either talking trash about their competitors or apparently getting bought out.

I haven't seen any buzz around the actual service offered in what seems like years.

[ado908]

Do you people honestly believe micrsoft will actually do this and buy online for their fans? The same company charging 60 dollars a year to play online....