Sony Buys Cloud Gaming Service Gaikai For $380 Million – PS4 Games Streaming Soon To An Android Near You?

I’ve been following the cloud gaming service Gaikai since its launch, and was excited to see where the company was headed. More recently, we took a look at what they had planned for Android, when they teamed up with Nvidia to show off a few high-level games powered by Nvidia’s hardware, and streaming to Nvidia’s Tegra 3 devices. Now it looks like things have taken an abrupt turn with Sony Computer Entertainment (Sony’s gaming division) moving in on the sly, purchasing Gaikai for a cool $380 million.

Sony’s Andrew House, President and Group CEO of SCE commented on the acquisition saying the combination of Gaikai’s resources with SCE’s will result in “world-class” cloud streaming service available on a variety of internet-connected devices (Android?). Gaikai CEO David Perrry (of Earth Worm Jim fame) said the acquisition will help developers “dramatically improve the reach” of their content, bringing it to new users worldwide.

Where this leaves Nvidia in all of this remains to be seen. We can only conjecture that we’ll soon be streaming PS4 games to our Sony Playstation “certified” Android devices, but it’s a little soon for that. Guess we’ll find out soon enough. Full press release below.

Sony Computer Entertainment to Acquire Gaikai Inc., a Leading Interactive Cloud Gaming Company

SCE to Build a Cloud Service Bringing Gaikai’s Cloud Based-Streaming Technologies into Its Network Business

TOKYO, July 2, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) today announced that it entered into a definitive agreement on June 30, 2012 (Japan Time) to acquire Gaikai Inc., the world’s leading interactive cloud-based gaming company, for approximately USD 380 million. Through the acquisition, SCE will establish a new cloud service, ensuring that it continues to provide users with truly innovative and immersive interactive entertainment experiences.

“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.”

Established in 2008 and headquartered in Aliso Viejo, California, Gaikai has developed the highest quality, fastest interactive cloud-streaming platform in the world that enables the streaming of quality games to a wide variety of devices via the internet. With this acquisition, SCE will establish a cloud service and expand its network business by taking full advantage of Gaikai’s revolutionary technology and infrastructure including data centers servicing dozens of countries and key partners around the world.

The transaction is subject to certain regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

SCE will continue to aggressively expand a new world of entertainment through the introduction of innovative technologies and the delivery of amazing experiences.