Sony: Partnership With Microsoft on Cloud Gaming Is Going to Be "Very Strong"

Sony is hosting its Corporate Strategy Meeting in Tokyo, and its executives provided more information about the PlayStation business.

[lelo2play]

When there's money to be made, rivals become friends.

[Jin_Sakai]

And to make sure no one else enters the game.

[S2Killinit]

Thats what I was thinking. Im pretty sure they both want to make sure that they grow with the pace of the industry so others dont find a foothold. Its smart move by them.

[Jin_Sakai]

“or maybe MS already has it on lock & Sony knows they can't compete with that.
Best to sign up like everyone else”

I could easily say the same about PlayStation exclusives. Microsoft knows they can’t compete.

[itsmebryan]

@jin
“or maybe MS already has it on lock & Sony knows they can't compete with that.
Best to sign up like everyone else”

I could easily say the same about PlayStation exclusives. Microsoft knows they can’t compete.

No, you can't.
Is MS paying Sony for "exclusives" some of which will also be on PC? No.
I'd Sony paying to use MS cloud? Yes
That is not the same.

You make really odd fanboy statements that don't make any sense.

[Jin_Sakai]

“You make really odd fanboy statements that don't make any sense.“

Sony didn’t sign with Microsoft because they couldn’t compete. They signed because it’s faster and much cheaper than building a worldwide network for cloud gaming.

[RazzerRedux]

True statement. Apple still buy smart phone panels from the primary rival: Samsung, for example. Samsung buys sensors from its TV rival: Sony. This isn't new.

[steven2597]

Tell that to Nintendo back in the 90's. Money can also make friends become rivals.

[darthv72]

the enemy of my enemy is my friend

[RangerWalk267]

Or when there is a trillion dollar company, that could buy you up 40x over again, has tech you need. You say, "help".

[Mrwick890]

There's no such thing as rivals in the tech industry. They need each other. Microsoft has to pay sony to use blu-ray.

Also what they do is they crowd the market so its harder for a small company to get control of the market.

[autobotdan]

First there was project X-cloud. Project P-cloud

[russo121]

So, this is an XP partnership 8)

[Software_Lover]

............ I'm going to have to double check, but I think you win.

[Sunny_D]

In the near future:

“Sony and Microsoft announce merging of gaming divisions.” The new 10th gen system will be called The Playbox.

[GamesAsAService]

I will be 100% honest, if I only have to buy 1 box instead of 2, I don't think I will complain that much. I believe this to be the endgame anyways.

[Software_Lover]

I've been saying this for years, but I do understand the reluctance. Would the PS5 be what it is without Microsoft pushing? Would the XSX be what it is without the Fups of Xbox One and Sony pushing?

One console, one online play service would be great.

[leoms]

if it happens I don't thinks it will last. Completely opposite philosophies, see Nintendo and Sony partnership.

[RememberThe357]

There is. It's called PC.

[RazzerRedux]

@Software_Lover

So you acknowledge that Sony and Microsoft have pushed each other forward, but you are advocating "one console" where there is no competition at all and thus, no "pushing" at all? That doesn't make any sense. You just removed the competition that you've said makes these console what they are.

@RememberThe357

Yep

[GamesAsAService]

@RazzerRedux

I think that the conversation is moving in a direction where we imply the innovation moves into the software domain. Games competing against games. Overhead costs of console manufacturing either offloaded to a 3rd party and Sony and Microsoft focus on their IP, or Sony and Microsoft agree upon a console platform that they would both like to see in next gen. One immediate benefit of Microsoft not having to focus on hardware would be that they focus on creating great games. This would address their largest perceived weakness.

I think it is prudent to worry about a standstill in hardware innovation (as you rightfully bring up), but I think that the competition can extend into games and both companies can still go back and forth seeing if they can one up each other interms of their software offerings.

It is an interesting thought experiment at least.

[Hakuoro]

Software_Lover

I agree Microsoft should get out of gaming.

[outsider1624]

Playbox that can play Gow, Uc5, Halo, gears, forza, Gt7...on one single console.

One console to rule them all.

[NotoriousWhiz]

Looks like we've already forgotten about the benefits of competition. But I suppose we have no problem with spending $800 on a new console with forced DRM.

[Cueil]

One console to bind the.

[GreatSako2020]

They will call it Playboy

[SaveFerris]

Playboy X

[SierraGuy]

That's the handheld version.

[chiefJohn117]

PlayBox Station X

[FyBy]

If you put it like that...Sonys exclusives, PSVR, clean interface with MS communication, features for people, xcloud and gamepass....

Thats very nice story ! Where can I preorder my first Playbox? :-)

[TheHan]

This will be cool, when you’ve got companies like Nintendo, PlayStation & Xbox they can move mountains in the gaming industry.

[Zarock]

Nintendo is trash don't you dare mention them in a Sony and Microsoft world.

[NeoGamer232]

That is completely subjective and not based on fact.

[Games1st]

Consoles need competition. The cloud needs all the help it can get.

[Kumakai]

Lot of irony here considering how many Sony fanboys have ripped ms with “power of the cloud” jokes... Now Sony needs some of it.

[Battlestar23]

No the joke was Microsoft claiming that the cloud would make the X1 10 times more powerful then the PS4 which was just stupid.

[S2Killinit]

The irony is that that is what you remember from where the jokes originated from.

[hectorius]

Kumakai41m ago
Lot of irony here considering how many Sony fanboys have ripped ms with “power of the cloud” jokes... Now Sony needs some of it.***

Actually its the other way around Xbot..

MS has dumped the Azure tech and is replacing it with Xbone tech and not the "Beast" either...
https://www.digitaltrends.c...

but lowly XBone S tech, so MS's gaming future is based on tech released pre-2017.

MS Flight Sim 2020 isn't a game, it connects you to the Azure servers, which links to Bing Maps

https://www.techtimes.com/a...

So the streaming graphics are only as good as your internet connection.. Good luck

***However, the high quality to MSFS's renderings come at a high price, as to be expected. The game is so big that it requires 20,000 Blu-ray discs just to have it shipped as a physical copy. This is why the new flight simulator is only being offered through streaming.***

downloading that "game" over a weekend via a free Gamepass sub. lol

Hmmmm I wonder what tech MS is using on their servers???

https://www.zdnet.com/artic...

***While new storage companies have emerged around faster and more expensive solid-state drive technology, Sony is hoping to tap the growing market for cold storage - a sector it says is the largest and fastest growing portion of the datacentre market. That growth is likely due to purchasing associated with so-called 'hyperscale' datacentres owned by Facebook, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Apple, and others.***

Come into my parlour
https://www.youtube.com/wat...
said the Spider to the fly. lol

[Software_Lover]

Tell us how you really feel.

[hectorius]

Software_Lover11m ago
Tell us how you really feel.***

With my hands ... And soon thumbs and fingers via Haptic Feedback and adaptive Triggers. Having opposable thumbs is another reason why I prefer the PS controllers.. But thank you for asking sir.

[Sol4ris]

You wrote a useless wall of text, and while doing so, proved that you haven't got a clue about the subject matter.
Congratulations.

[hectorius]

deepdishdj11h ago
@Hector***

It's Hectorius, son of Maximus Minibus

***Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't the xboxs only being used for streaming for X cloud?***

Isn't that what I said??

***I'm pretty sure they're not using Xbox one consoles in their azure data centres***

They are NOT using Azure Cloud tech, its gone from the Cloud to X[box]cloud see the difference?

***like the ones that Sony have partnered with them.***

You have absolutely no proof that Sony has partnered with MS with anything to do with Playstation.

***The amount of data for the flight Sim game is insane but I dont think they could have done that any other way. It does look very impressive.***

It looks impressive as its online only and a databank of 20,000 BR disks. As it cannot ever be fully downloaded its no more impressive than a "flight" using Google Maps.. Sony showed this tech back in 2006 when revealing the PS 3/ Cell

https://www.youtube.com/wat...
[2:10]

Where they showed the Cell ONLY in REAL TIME, creating a landscape out of data received via Lidar
***Lidar, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, is a remote sensing method that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure ranges (variable distances) to the Earth.15 Apr 2020
***
and satelite whilst creating the clouds via Perlin Noise generator.

***The ZDNet article is from 2015 so not sure what relavence that has now.***

It pretty much explains itself, read it again..

***While new storage companies have emerged around faster and more expensive solid-state drive technology, Sony is hoping to tap the growing market for cold storage - a sector it says is the largest and fastest growing portion of the datacentre market. That growth is likely due to purchasing associated with so-called 'hyperscale' datacentres owned by Facebook, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Apple, and others.***

This was 2015, the majority of Data Centres were using high speed 6.5TF magnetic tape, which was a relic of the Betamax days.. Sony stopped manufacturing Betamax tape

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/...

***Sony says goodbye to Betamax tapes
By Zoe Kleinman
Technology reporter, BBC News
10 November 2015***

in 2016, which they announced in 2015.. Which is why Datacentres needed new storage going on into the future

***If Sony were trying to position themselves as a big player in the data centre business wouldn't they have made good headway by now? And why would they then need to partner with MS?***

Jebus wept..

***Sony is hoping to tap the growing market for cold storage - a sector it says is the largest and fastest growing portion of the datacentre market. That growth is likely due to purchasing associated with so-called 'hyperscale' datacentres owned by Facebook, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Apple, and others***

do something about your reading comprehension XBot. MS needs to partner with Sony to build and manage their Petasite Library.. Google "Azure" + Outages 2016/17/18/19/20 and you'll soon see why Sony would never use that trash.

[hectorius]

Sol4ris11h ago
You wrote a useless wall of text, and while doing so, proved that you haven't got a clue about the subject matter.
Congratulations.***

Thanks.. However know your subject matter kid.. Not only couldn't you refute anything but

***(plural walls of text) (chiefly Internet slang) A large and intimidating piece of writing, particularly one with few or no paragraph breaks.***

My post doesn't come under that catagory son.. However if you feel intimidated I apologise, it wasn't even joined up writing.. Perhaps next time you can get mummy to read it out to you, whilst you sip Horlicks or warm milk laced with Calpol?

[hectorius]

shaggy23038h ago
@Hectorious

You missed of the part of the article that says the game can be played offline, but you had your agenda to push.

"Asobo promised to wwhave certain areas of the world map pre-loaded to help provide smoother gameplay for gamers with slower connections and to allow them to play even when offline. However, players still need to have fast internet connections to experience the game at its fullest, especially at 4K resolutions."***

Because its irrelevant. It isn't a game if its 20,000 worth of Bluray disks and you get a 150GB [3x disks worth] segment to play off line This will simply be a flight from A-B with stops on the way.

Telling the truth is having an agenda?? It even says there that you still need fast internet access to experience the game to the fullest. Seems you Xbots have the agenda and aren't in touch with reality.

Anyway, this will be my last post on this thread. Explaining to XBox fanbois is hard work.

[Atticus_finch]

You mean ripping the fact that MS lied. Yea I bet you're cool with that.

[sinspirit]

Increasing console power with "the cloud". Is different from streaming a game where it's entirely cloud based. One is streaming video and inputs. The other is a very intricate and expensive method that requires server syncing with your console software and greatly affects game mechanics to be designed around server capabilities and your personal internet. MS obviously doesn't have PSNow hardware. The partnership is basically Sony's own PSNow servers having allotted sectors in Azure server farms. They're just renting space and internet infrastructure. Nothing related to MS's claims and misleading.

[Hakuoro]

I don't want cloud gaming at all, I want Sony to oppose cloud gaming not join in on it.

A partnership with Microsoft will be Sony's undoing. Why partner with a company who openly declares their goal is to bring you down and undercuts everything you do? They should have partnered with Google or Amazon if they were so determined to offer cloud.

[IRetrouk]

They will be using ms servers to run their own services off, I dont see the problem, sony will also be helping ms with their cloud solutions among other things, its business.

[FyBy]

Its not about xbox cloud gaming tech. Its about Azure infrastrucutre. Its normal. Theres nothing strange about it.

[Atticus_finch]

I'm sure Sony got a really good price considering they could had easily gone with the competition. Win win

[Atticus_finch]

Okay deepdishdj tell me how you really feel...

[FyBy]

I couldnt agree more. Theres also AWS and Google cloud to name the bigest ones. This is really big deal, so Sony probably had good offers from all.

[Donnie81]

Even Sony wants in on the power of the cloud. I know relying on Microsoft for their cloud resources must me pretty embarrassing

[Sunny_D]

So true, kind of like how it must have been embarrassing having to use Blu ray on the Xbox one after the failure that was HD DVD. 😉

[Donnie81]

Well it’s not like Sony owns Blu-ray because they don’t. It’s like a coalition of three companies including Samsung that own the technology. Actually the anti piracy measure on Blu-ray was invented by Microsoft so don’t try to compare the Blu-ray drive to Sony renting servers and bumming tech from Xbox because you are talking about a whole new level of humble pie there

[FyBy]

I dont think its embarassing. Sony is big player. Its MSs need to have Sony on its side (as a paying customer). Sony could also pay to Amazon or Google.

You can choose. Its not like that Sony had to go with MS. Just google aws vs google cloud vs azure.

[FanboyPolice]

This is a business article, not gaming article

[xenz]

Isnt gaming business?

[NewEnds0186]

A bunch of people going on about sony needing ms for cloud like ms is not getting anything in return. Some people should do some research.

[danny818]

The fan boys won’t like this lol

[Sophisticated_Chap]

Time for everyone to stand in a circle and hold hands now.

[SaveFerris]

What about social distancing?

[FanboyPolice]

Best Comment Award

[Sophisticated_Chap]

Just take Hydroxychloroquine, and you'll be fine.

[Hakuoro]

Sophisticated_Chap

Inject some bleach while your at it.

[agnosticgamer]

This is an area where Sony is not a big player in at all... So the only real choices were Amazon's AWS, Google Cloud or Microsoft Azure. Sony did their homework and chose the one they deemed best. Nothing more nothing less.

[umair_s51]

Neat. Sony streaming will benefit. Can see improvements to Ps now.

[FanboySpotter]

Oof here come the fanboys asap trying to bring up cd3 lol. The cloud is very real, Asobo destroyed crackdown 3's 'cloud power' with Microsoft Flight Simulator which is mind blowing even technically. That and xcloud streaming has been flawless performance wise so sony isn't dumb they know what's up.

[blacktiger]

This is normal, as long MS doesn't copy they can do just like apple and MS, apple and Google. One thing sony doesn't want is Google. Google is now the biggest threat to almost on all category. Sooner or later Sony will start moving on their own or if Microsoft becomes a threat they can easily move to AWS,which is not configured properly yet but Amazon is entering cloud gaming.

[shiva1]

Streaming would be the main component and cloud gaming would be secondary i guess. May be gaikai is not that equipped or scalable for next gen streaming/cloud gaming.

What ever it is , the hardware using them are consoles and psvr. Will PC be part of it? If yes will the games release on PC day one? I doubt it.

Glad to see them joining hands. I would never like sony to go with google. No gamer should go through google servers... Heavy advertisements.... One needs to pay to skip adverts 😭... Imagine that in gaming...

[SprigganN4G]

Microsoft is at Amazon and Google level on server tech, Sony is like a grain of sand in comparison. This move is smart for both.

[Phantom68]

This is interesting given the power of Azure cloud which you can see in action with the new flight sim

[umair_s51]

I have a personal request. Please allow the others controller to work on your console.

[nowitzki2004]

N4G is not the best place to request that.

[neomahi]

Political B.S. offer as little information as possible to shut everyone up but make it sound like you're their best friend.

[rlow1]

Nothing new, Sony and MS have been doing business for years. This is just another mutually beneficial venture among the many they've done.

[RaidenBlack]

Well one can't ignore Amazon's juggernaut of a service, AWS in cloud department. And their foray into cloud gaming is every bit of nightmare. And they'll ensure their endeavour doesn't fall flat like Google and their hastiness.
So yes an early partnership is necessary for future stronghold.

[gold_drake]

oh i hope so.
we all know who the problem child is out of those two.

[blacktiger]

microsoft? who claim everything is a cancer? sony has AWS and even GOOGLE to go with, better yet ORACLE