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Sony May Stream PlayStation Games to PC

By - Source: VG247 | B 26 comments

Sony is investigating how to stream PlayStation games to PC, smartphones and tablets.

SCE Worldwide Studios boss Shuhei Yoshida recently stated that he wants to see Sony streaming PlayStation games not only to the two PlayStation consoles, but to the PC, HDTVs, tablets and other devices. This comes from the same company that promised to provide PlayStation One games on Android-based "Certified PlayStation" phones, but only managed to cough up Crash Bandicoot here in the States.

Yoshida made his streaming revelation while speaking with Dengeki Online, stating that Sony is investigating how its library of PlayStation games can be expanded to both Sony and non-Sony devices without disrupting the core PlayStation console business. Form factors under consideration also include smartphones and Blu-ray players.

"We previously spoke about PlayStation going from hardware to something closer to a service, regardless of the device," he said. "Of course PlayStation will still be the center, but I think we would like to expand to different things."

PlayStation as a service does seem to be Sony's eventual goal. Last week, Yoshida confirmed that its newly-acquired Gaikai cloud platform will begin streaming PlayStation 3 games to the new console in North America next year. A limited selection of games will be available at launch, but Sony will continue to add titles throughout the year. These games will also be playable on the PlayStation Vita and the new Vita TV set-top box.

Last week Sony shocked Tokyo Game Show attendees with the reveal of its Vita TV device, a 4 inch long, 2 inch high "micro-console" that plugs directly into an HDTV. The device can play both PlayStation Vita (card slot) and PlayStation Portable (downloadable) games as well as stream music, movies and TV shows. The set-top box is currently only launching in Japan.

"Of course we are thinking of launching it in the US and Europe," said Sony Japan exec Masayasu Ito. "But when it comes to the timing, we'll have to watch the environment and identify what other services are available in the US and Europe and whether we'll have to add other services."

Unlike OnLive, Gaika doesn't offer a cloud-based subscription service, but instead provides the backbone for content makers to sell and stream their games over the cloud. And because Gaikai can be embedded in any site, customers aren't required to navigate an online portal or download software. Sony purchased Gaikai on July 2, 2012.

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Top Comments
  • 12 Hide
    Amdlova , September 26, 2013 7:01 PM
    can i play with my keyboard and my mouse???
  • 11 Hide
    CaedenV , September 26, 2013 7:13 PM
    This is what I want Sony! I am more than capable of making a computer good enough to play your games, just throw software at me and I will throw money back your direction!

    Now if only there was another console company who designed a console around PC hardware, and a PC OS who could also figure this out...
Other Comments
  • 12 Hide
    Amdlova , September 26, 2013 7:01 PM
    can i play with my keyboard and my mouse???
  • Display all 26 comments.
  • 11 Hide
    CaedenV , September 26, 2013 7:13 PM
    This is what I want Sony! I am more than capable of making a computer good enough to play your games, just throw software at me and I will throw money back your direction!

    Now if only there was another console company who designed a console around PC hardware, and a PC OS who could also figure this out...
  • 7 Hide
    bchan009 , September 26, 2013 7:28 PM
    If they're streaming it then the specs of your machine are largely irrelevant.
  • -4 Hide
    michael908 , September 26, 2013 8:21 PM
    What's the point of this? I can do the same by turning settings on low and playing on my netbook..
  • 7 Hide
    bchan009 , September 26, 2013 8:35 PM
    @michael908

    Assuming your internet connection is strong enough, the game will look good because all of the actual heavy lifting is being done elsewhere. Your netbook will be able to play the game at high settings because your netbook isn't actually doing anything but playing back the video feed.

    Seems like a lot of people don't understand how streaming works. =/
  • 2 Hide
    jamger , September 26, 2013 8:52 PM
    i think they actually ignore the word ''streaming'' lol
  • -2 Hide
    michael908 , September 26, 2013 8:53 PM
    I was being given sarcastic since my netbook is more powerful than the ps4. And low settings would be the pc equivalent to console.
  • 1 Hide
    DylanSLC , September 26, 2013 8:56 PM
    YESSSSS Sony should just consume my life with this.
  • 0 Hide
    jamger , September 26, 2013 8:56 PM
    still missed the part of ''streaming'' and u can lower the graphics to make it look like a console, the point of this, what i think that it may be good, if that they may stream some ps games exclusive. thats the whole point of streaming a ps game to a pc. else why would anyone do that.l just my point of view :) 
  • 0 Hide
    bchan009 , September 26, 2013 9:31 PM
    @michael908

    Your...your NETBOOK?! D: What kind of netbook are you packing? Please tell me you mean ultrabook. >_>
  • 0 Hide
    bustapr , September 26, 2013 10:21 PM
    this is a very amazing thing for pc gamers. ps3 has ALOT of exclusives that the PC community is missing out on. since the ps4 is so similar to a pc, it wouldnt cost a whole lot to port over the ps4 gaikai streaming ability to pc as well. this move is very little risk for Sony since the ps3 will be phased out soon(2016?).
  • 0 Hide
    oarking , September 26, 2013 10:38 PM
    We've been able to do this for at least 2 years. Sony created "Remote Play" to stream to PSPs and Vaio laptops. So naturally some hackers made a tool so your computer doesn't have to be Vaio and your PS3 doesn't have to be modded. It works great and has for a very long time. Cracks me up when multi-billion dollar companies claim "difficulties" like this when regular (yet talented) people do it with simple motivation.
  • 0 Hide
    clonazepam , September 26, 2013 11:02 PM
    If its like OnLive, where I'm 300 miles from the server, out here on the cali central coast, it won't look so hot. For example, a 3rd person action game like Batman... the player controlled character will look pretty sharp, then depending on your bandwidth, everything radiating outward from your character will get more and more pixelated to the point of looking like utter crap. Take the PS3's low res textures, upscaled to say 1080p, then pixelated due to bandwidth/latency... It's not very pretty to be honest.

    As in all things, YMMV, and if the price is right, it's better than watching a "let's play" on youtube.
  • 0 Hide
    lpedraja2002 , September 26, 2013 11:08 PM
    Good idea Sony but instead of streaming why not make a pretty damn awesome emulator? Not everyone has the connection to stream these games at good quality or lag free experience. But from what I've read the real money comes from selling games so why not make an official Sony emulator for the PC and us PC gamers will buy your games without a problem.
  • 1 Hide
    qlum , September 27, 2013 12:03 AM
    On pc it's easy, just connect a ps3 controller through bluetooth.
  • 0 Hide
    ojas , September 27, 2013 12:14 AM
    What if some tie up with Valve is on the cards? Streaming to SteamOS and all.
  • 1 Hide
    renz496 , September 27, 2013 2:34 AM
    Quote:
    can i play with my keyboard and my mouse???


    Doubt that. Since the game on the ps4 itself will be build around using the controller. Unless sony mandate the dev must also support mouse and keyboard usage along side controller when they develop their game for ps4.

    Anyway this might Sony move to counter Valve move with StreamOS although the streaming part might be it's weak point since unlike StreamOS's streaming from your local network this one will need real internet connection to connect to sony's Gaikai cloud server
  • 1 Hide
    renz496 , September 27, 2013 2:41 AM
    Quote:
    Good idea Sony but instead of streaming why not make a pretty damn awesome emulator? Not everyone has the connection to stream these games at good quality or lag free experience. But from what I've read the real money comes from selling games so why not make an official Sony emulator for the PC and us PC gamers will buy your games without a problem.


    I doubt sony like the idea of emulating their latest console. Just look what happen to bleem, the comercial emulator for the original playstation.
  • 1 Hide
    cats_Paw , September 27, 2013 2:52 AM
    How about making decend Ports to PC....
    Oh, right, crazy idea...
  • 1 Hide
    ricky_d , September 27, 2013 2:55 AM
    I just wonder how they're gonna get around the latency issue? Maximum tolerable latence is already present in a large LCD TV, so any addition will ruin fast paced games.
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