1040°

Sony and Microsoft to explore strategic partnership

Companies to collaborate on new cloud-based solutions for gaming experiences and AI solutions TOKYO and REDMOND, Wash. — May 16, 2019 — Sony Corporation (Sony) and Microsoft Corp. (Microsoft) announced on Thursday that the two companies will partner on new innovations to enhance customer experiences in their direct-to-consumer entertainment platforms and AI solutions.

Read Full Story >>
news.microsoft.com
gangsta_red1819d ago

"In addition, the two companies will explore the use of current Microsoft Azure datacenter-based solutions for Sony’s game and content-streaming services. "

You don't say....

"By integrating Sony’s cutting-edge image sensors with Microsoft’s Azure AI technology in a hybrid manner across cloud and edge, as well as solutions that leverage Sony’s semiconductors and Microsoft cloud technology, the companies aim to provide enhanced capabilities for enterprise customers."

You don't say....

"For many years, Microsoft has been a key business partner for us, though of course the two companies have also been competing in some areas. I believe that our joint development of future cloud solutions will contribute greatly to the advancement of interactive content." - said Kenichiro Yoshida,

You don't say....

“Sony has always been a leader in both entertainment and technology, and the collaboration we announced today builds on this history of innovation,” said Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft. “Our partnership brings the power of Azure and Azure AI to Sony to deliver new gaming and entertainment experiences for customers.”

You...don't say!

- Who was that???

HE DIDN'T SAY!

Kribwalker1819d ago

Does that technically make MS Sony’s landlord in the cloud processing field?

Razzer1819d ago (Edited 1819d ago )

"By integrating Sony’s cutting-edge image sensors with Microsoft’s Azure AI technology in a hybrid manner across cloud and edge, as well as solutions that leverage Sony’s semiconductors and Microsoft cloud technology"

Does that technically make Sony MS's landlord in the semiconductor and image sensors field?

Unspoken1819d ago

Do either of you even know what is being referenced here?

crazyCoconuts1819d ago

Not yet, but possibly in the future. Memo of understanding is not really much of a commitment.

AspiringProGenji1819d ago (Edited 1819d ago )

@Unspoken

They got low IQ to know both companies have been partners and exhanging tech for years and that this has nothing to do with console war

fiveby91819d ago

Is there a possibility that both companies are concerned strategically about companies like Google and Amazon entering the traditional gaming market via their cloud initiatives? I gotta wonder. But this is rather nebulous at this point and I don't want to read too much into this.

Zeref1819d ago

despite the downvotes that is basically what it means.

OB1Biker1819d ago

'joint development of future cloud solutions'

Dark_Knightmare21819d ago

You both are such pathetic fanboys it’s sad. This news should be celebrated instead the first thing you and gangsta do is fanboy grow up.

darthv721819d ago (Edited 1819d ago )

Sounds like a very good deal is in the works for all. MS has the storage space and infrastructure to deliver the content quickly to consumers and Sony has the content for that which to be delivered. It's a win-win for both companies and the consumers.

gangsta_red1819d ago (Edited 1819d ago )

@Dark_Knightmare2
"This news should be celebrated instead the first thing you and gangsta do is fanboy grow up."

Lol, i just love comments that are only aimed at specific people, exactly where did I ..fanboy...anything up? This news is exciting and I left the quotes to prove just that. MS and Sony are collaborating on streaming and possibly other gaming related avenues using MS's Azure cloud. Which tells me that streaming is definitely going to be something of extreme importance in the years to come.

Now kindly calm down, not everything is waging your console fanboy war that you need to jump in eyes close and swing your arms in the air at nothing for.

indysurfn1819d ago

That would be a Good analogy Kribwalker if you say MS is Sonys GARAGE landlord for Sony's racecars!

LOL....just kidding!

naruga1819d ago (Edited 1819d ago )

big mistake for Sony ....wherever MS has sank its teeth in has failed 10/10 times with the only benefitted being MS ... ...just look Nokia and other examples ..

rainslacker1819d ago (Edited 1819d ago )

No. But I'm sure that's the narrative that we'll be hearing as fact in the near future. Because I know you and Gansta above you will love to act like Sony needs MS for this, despite Sony owning so many cloud game streaming patents that it'd cost both google and MS millions to implement new solutions which may not work as well, or would end up infringing on existing patents. Sony still has it's own data centers, and as of now, no agreement has been made.

So, interesting tidbit....Sony, MS, and Nintendo have patents for consoles, or gaming in general, that they license from one another and use in their respective hardware. Sometimes it's just better for everyone to do that.

+ Show (10) more repliesLast reply 1819d ago
DaDrunkenJester1819d ago (Edited 1819d ago )

This is very interesting news. So Microsoft is going to help them update and build their future streaming services. I wonder if there is any other benefit being had here besides MS obviously making a piece of Sonys streaming pie

gangsta_red1819d ago

"...had here besides MS obviously making a piece of Sonys streaming pie"

I think that's the biggest and probably the main benefit of this collaboration for MS. Sony is now going to be a customer using MS's cloud structure. Which makes me think that there may be something to this cloud gaming from MS if Sony is willing to jump on board and use it too.

travestyj1819d ago

Sony is getting a piece of the Azure pie. A much bigger pie than game streaming.

1819d ago
itsmebryan1819d ago

Yeah. $$$$$ 😁. They make money on every console. Where are the power that laughed at the power of the cloud?

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 1819d ago
Christopher1819d ago

According to old news, Microsoft just lost one of its best weapons:

https://www.businessinsider...

This is a win-win for both. Sony remains competitive in their field, MS gets payola off Sony's success, both can remain competitive to hold off Google and similar outsiders.

gangsta_red1819d ago (Edited 1819d ago )

"...both can remain competitive to hold off Google and similar outsiders."

Why am I picturing Game of Thrones and the white walker battle?

It also makes me wonder just how big this streaming is about to get when we have MS and Sony joining up.

Razzer1819d ago (Edited 1819d ago )

I remember having conversations a while back about MS cloud and suggesting MS would absolutely sell Azure services to Sony. Folks balked and said why would they? They are competitors. Fact is MS doesn't have Azure for its own benefit. It exists primarily to sell to others who are not in the business of cloud. Companies such as.....Sony.

@gangsta_red

"Why am I picturing Game of Thrones and the white walker battle? "

I was just thinking the same thing. lol

BlackTar1871819d ago

@razzer

common enemy (Google) means common alliance(MS & Sony) also people get all fanboyish here and everywhere but in the boardroom, it's always business.

Razzer1819d ago

"in the boardroom, it's always business"

Yep. In the end, these guys don't report to gamers. They report to stockholders.

RememberThe3571819d ago

With Google and even maybe Netflix trying to elbow their way into the industry, it only makes sense for Sony and MS to team up to fight back. I hope they still compete in gaming but sharing tech and working together on the underlying tech would be awesome. I honestly expect Nintendo to pick a side as well, but we'll see.

I really like this move. A lot.

Zeref1819d ago (Edited 1819d ago )

PSnow is going to be running on xCloud technology. That is actually pretty cool to say the least. Hopefully Sony will start actually providing more AAA games on PSnow. I would definitely pay for it then. Because streaming is fine for single player games and the best Sony games are single player experiences anyway. Definitely looking forward to this.

I can see Nintendo joining in as well eventually as they already back Xbox Live.

So it's going to really be xCloud(The Big three joining forces) vs Google,Amazon and Apple.

Mr_Writer851819d ago

@zeref

Define AAA

Because from what I can see PSNow has loads....

UltraNova1819d ago (Edited 1819d ago )

Its definitely a win win for both(like when MS finally adopted Blu-ray). The cloud gaming scene looks like its going to be cut-throat with Google, Apple and Netflix wanting a piece of the pie so this Sony-MS collaboration is great news.

Sony gets to upgrade their PS Now infrastructure and MS gets renting money. Additionally, both get to collaborate on AI Cloud systems.

Who knows, if Google etc turn out to be formidable in the game streaming arena whats stopping MS and Sony from combining forces and forming a unified Cloud gaming platform? Game Pass Now ??(nuh, but you get the point).

rainslacker1819d ago (Edited 1819d ago )

What's funny is Sony is making money off Google and MS as well, because they own so many patents which they're licensing out to the companies. MS already makes money off Sony and Nintendo. Nintendo makes money off MS and Nintendo. They all collaborate. They compete in the consumer market, and among industry professionals, but when it comes down to it, they all do things that's best for them.

Anyhow, we already see some people already trying to lay the ground work for how this is a huge win for MS, and how Sony needs MS to make it work, despite this not being anything more than an exploration, where there seems to be an equal collaboration.

When it comes down to it, MS would allow any paying customer to use Azure. It's unlikely to be a straight up trade for the use of the service. MS proper isn't going to say no to Sony just because Xbox fan boys think it's a bad idea, and Sony isn't going to worry about fan boy criticism if it's significantly cheaper to allow MS to host the services.

I don't even think it's to just compete against Google. If Sony and Google could make something work, they'd work together too.

andibandit1819d ago

Im not sure streaming will hit it big, but I can understand sony not wanting to be left behind if it does

+ Show (7) more repliesLast reply 1819d ago
Dirtnapstor1819d ago (Edited 1819d ago )

I know it's been touted as superior, but I've never been impressed with MS's online. Always took twice as long to download anything on my Xbox vs my PS3/PS4. From what I experienced, the "services" everyone boasted on simply amounted to connecting/chatting with friends.
I'll admit there's room for improvement with Sony services, but truly, MS has boasted on their Cloud streaming services and whatnot forever...where is it? And you know this has only come about since the announcement of Stadia. I believe they've agreed to scratch each others back. Bottom line, the console market is wanting to ensure they stay a step ahead of Google's game streaming service.

NarutoFox1818d ago

"They got low IQ to know both companies have been partners and exhanging tech for years and that this has nothing to do with console war"

Well said

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 1818d ago
ArchangelMike1819d ago

Is this the start of a one console future... hmm... 😎

gangsta_red1819d ago (Edited 1819d ago )

The power of the cloud!! Lol

Gunstar751819d ago

Brilliant. Even Sony have succumb to its powah lol

SublimeStylee21819d ago

Correction^ The Power of Playstation!!

froy4021819d ago

Children, go to bed let the adults talk

sander97021819d ago

It's just another small step into the GAS chamber.

Tross1819d ago (Edited 1819d ago )

Nintendo says hi, and MS has been friendly with them lately too. Also, MS isn't cancelling their next Xbox. They might be exploring options in case it doesn't perform as well as they hope, but they're still hanging on in the console market for the time being.

kneon1819d ago

No, it's just Microsoft signing up another big Azure customer. Azure is much more important to Microsoft than the Xbox business.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 1819d ago
1819d ago Replies(2)
Kribwalker1819d ago

I wonder if this puts to rest who has a better network? Seeing as Sony is going to now use MS’ network for their cloud processing. Definitely interesting to see them work together on something like this

Razzer1819d ago (Edited 1819d ago )

lol.....anyone who ever said Sony had better cloud infrastructure than Azure doesn't know what they are talking about. But trying to equate this to online gaming performance is silly. This isn't about "a better network".

Kribwalker1819d ago

isn’t it? if sony had a better network, why would they partner with MS to use there’s?

Razzer1819d ago

You are reading this as Sony will be moving PSN to Azure. That is not what they said at all.

Ricegum1819d ago

Krib

You are so out of touch of what's actually happening it is hilarious.

Xavi4K1819d ago

Several people on this website said so when there was a report out about the number of users for Ps now.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 1819d ago
Deathdeliverer1819d ago

Cloud is totally separate from PSN or Xbox live. Azure was a better CLOUD solution. The PSN/XBOX live argument rages on.

mynd1819d ago

How can they be seperate? Xbox live runs on azure, it literally the back bone of Live.

Kribwalker1819d ago

@mynd

My thoughts exactly

Zeref1819d ago

no it doesn't. we all know Xbox live is the better service. It has never been hacked,creditcards stolen or been down for more than an hour or 2. meanwhile PSN has been hacked,credit cards stolen and has been down for several days a few years ago.

RememberThe3571819d ago

PSN will still probably be running on Sony owned servers as long as PSN is a thing. But for cloud gaming and underlying infrastructure they will collaborate. Sony will supply some hardware and MS will supply some software. I assume there will be nuance to all of this and I highly doubt either company is throwing all their eggs in the others basket, so all these platitudes are nonsense. These are two tech giants that are choosing to work together to fight off coming competition, but fanboys like Kird here can't just let it be what it is.

badz1491819d ago (Edited 1819d ago )

@Zeref

"...Xbox live is the better service. It has never been hacked,creditcards stolen or been down for more than an hour or 2. meanwhile PSN has been hacked,credit cards stolen and has been down for several days..."

XBL has never been hacked? HAHAHAHA

and there was no proof any CC info was stolen during the 2011 PSN outage. no money was stolen. Sony detected a breach and cut-off the communication for inspection and forced to upgrade the infrastructure. they did issue a warning and urged people to change their CC for safety precaution but if I'm not mistaken, no CC actually got "stolen" as in no money was stolen even though hackers "claimed" they have those info.

you xbox fanboys are the most misinformed and deluded people on the planet!

andibandit1819d ago

@badz149

Noone really knows, I think the encryption on the database saved the data from exposure, but that really should be the last line of defense, not the first

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 1819d ago
WelkinCole1819d ago

Obvious you have no idea what you are talking about.

rainslacker1819d ago

Could you quote from the report where it says that Sony will move all it's gaming services to Azure. No report from Sony that I see that says they're giving up their datacenters. Nowhere does it say that, only to help Sony provide better performance to more customers, probably based on the fact that Azure is more widespread.

You did read the report didn't you? You do understand what exploratory means right? You also realize this was released by Microsoft proper....not the Xbox division. You notice how this also involved technology that wasn't confined to gaming right?

Azure is a very good service. And I don't know anyone who said that PSNow was ever better....just that it was fine for what it was offering.

Cobra9511819d ago

Well, that IS the better network. So, why not. Microsoft isn't doing it to be kind to their rivals either. They're getting something that Sony does better in return--if a deal actually happens. Right now, they just agreed to explore making a deal.

DigitalRaptor1818d ago (Edited 1818d ago )

You want it to mean that, but for gaming, I'm not so sure this concludes the debate at all. This just means that Sony thinks Azure is better for the future of their gaming services than AWS and whatever OpenStack pipeline they have been using for the longest time.

Cloud processing is just one aspect of the cogs that drive a network and its content and services infrastructure, just like Sony supplying hardware to make the most of what Azure can do is only one part of the future of Microsoft's network.

It is interesting to see though.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 1818d ago
bluefox7551819d ago ShowReplies(3)
Show all comments (247)
40°

Game Developers Have Begun Confirming Nintendo Switch 2 Support

Game developers have already started to confirm that they will support the Nintendo Switch 2 with their future titles.

Read Full Story >>
twistedvoxel.com
100°

Microsoft Is Finally Ending Its Focus On Big Budget Gaming Nonsense

Back when the Xbox 360 launched, Microsoft pushed the big budget game as a differentiator. Following all the recent layoffs, it’s clear this strategy has run its course.

Einhander197254m ago(Edited 51m ago)

The Microsoft shill take on the Microsoft causing the death of big budget gaming...

The whole driving force for growth in gaming both technologically, creatively and financially was all nonsense, and it was definitely not because Microsoft ran the industry into the ground with obviously bad decisions and creating an unprofitable business model that massively disrupted consumer spending habits. /s

Hofstaderman32m ago

Ah Forbes. One of the prominent MS mouthpieces....

Luc2017m ago

Microsoft is finally... ahhh I've never heard this one before!

Petebloodyonion15m ago

LOL, this article is a big pile of dog crap...
Spencer has been constantly telling ppl that NO they would not go the route of having games like TLOU, Uncharted, etc because Playstation exists and prefers to focus on a diverse portfolio.

How many years have we seen Xbox as no game and we don't want small games like ORI, Pentiment, Grounded, etc.?

That's the real tragedy and why lots of gamers are mad at MS right now
because they have been championing smaller titles and yet fired the ppl delivering exactly what they were proning about.

So no the only nonsense is that MS seems now to be going BACK to AAA popular titles..sorry, I meant refocusing effort on core established IP where broken GAAS might be rewarded versus praised and rewarded work.

crazyCoconuts14m ago

Hurray! No more big gam.... wait... what??

260°

Ninja Theory trends on X as gamers fear for studio following Tango Gameworks closure

Following the closure of 4 studios, many are now worried for the future of Ninja Theory once Hellblade 2 is released.

Read Full Story >>
videogamer.com
Sonic18814h ago(Edited 4h ago)

How is it going to sell well when it's also releasing on gamepass 🤔

Sephiroushin4h ago

Meant better to sell the studio and not closing it 🤦🏻 not to sell more games….
and games are sold anyways, you can buy it on xbox (not recommended if you got gamepass) but many pc gamers prefer to buy on steam than deal with the xbox app or pc gamepass!

On a side note to OP, the sales of studios wont happen though, especially when they want to retain the IPs, and well nobody is gonna buy a studios without its IPs; the other publishers that want a certain dev from the studio that are closing on their team can try to grab them as soon as they see they notice of the studio.

RaidenBlack3h ago(Edited 2h ago)

@Sephiroushin
Well hypothetically speaking, Ninja Theory can be sold to Sony at a lower rate sans the Hellblade IP.
Sony can then welcome them to work on the Heavenly Sword IP, which they still own.
Will be a nice proposition for Sony who can continue to offer a God of War-like hack n slash in their portfolio via Heavenly Sword 2, whilst Cory Barlog & co. decides to take a break from the God of War IP & venture some other genres.
On top of that, Ninja Theory was also interested in a sequel to Enslaved: Odyssey to the West and such Sony can come to a deal with Namco Bandai regarding the Enslaved IP.

Lightning7722h ago

Because they're next come next year. HB2 won't hit some impossible metric within MS so they're getting axed in 2025. Leave gaming now MS.

XiNatsuDragnel14h ago

Ninja theory might as well be gone in 2025 at this rate

notachance5h ago

Every xbox studio is in danger now because there’s just no way they’re gonna rake in big money from game sales because of gamepass, even CoD was rumored to not come to gamepass because it would canibalize their sales number.

neutralgamer19924h ago

If they are smart they don’t put COD on GP day one. It’s one of the best selling games on yearly basis

Hofstaderman3h ago

Satya will make sure that doesnt happen. As you rightly put it; why kill the cash cow?

But then again, it is MS after all.....

thesoftware7303m ago

I agree and disagree. They should not put it on GP, but CoD makes real money from the overpriced MTX that people buy for over a year. They also have it all linked up to the Mobile CoD, which will incentivize Twitch spending from consumers.

-Foxtrot42m ago

Also if you punish a studio for releasing a great critically acclaimed game which won some awards then what chance does anyone have

Elda3m ago

After this mess, I highly doubt the next installment of COD will be on Gamepass day one. It'll probably land on Gamepass 6 months after release date.

Rynxie5h ago(Edited 5h ago)

Ninja theory games were never big sellers. I could be wrong, but I doubt hellblade 2 will sell millions. I would rather they go independent and make heavenly sword 2.

solideagle5h ago(Edited 5h ago)

heavenly sword is Sony owned IP. this will never happen as original didn't sell enough...

Wikipedia: "In 2008, it was reported that a sequel to Heavenly Sword was in-development at SCE Studio Cambridge, but was canceled due to Sony no longer seeing it as a commercially viable product"

Show all comments (37)