In a move that surprised many, Sony and Microsoft announced that they would be working together in developing cloud-based solutions, which naturally will include game streaming services.
The move comes after Google’s announcement of their game streaming service, called Stadia, which is set to change the future of the industry. Now, longtime rivals Microsoft and Sony have decided to pull their resources together and assist each other in developing their respective cloud-based services.
The announcement comes as a huge surprise as Bloomberg reports that even Sony’s PlayStation team was caught off guard by the news.
The companies are planning to make use of Microsoft Azure to power their future cloud services. In this light, it does make sense for Sony to team up with Microsoft, who is one of the leaders when it comes to cloud technology. It would seem that Sony will tap into Microsft’s technology, using it for its own services.
The move comes after Sony has tried over the years to develop their own cloud-based gaming service in the form of PlayStation Now, which has only seen limited success.
With more and more tech companies dipping their toes into the game streaming industry, it makes sense for Microsoft and Sony to close ranks and set themselves up for the inevitable move from how the gaming industry currently functions to a more streaming-focused approach.
Yes, Sony and Microsoft aren’t going down without a fight. While it’s great to see a little bit of good old competition bringing the two gaming giants together, it’s still unclear how this strategic partnership will affect both parties. Many believe Sony will lose out in the long term because they would not only have to compete with Microsoft in the gaming space but will now also be paying its rival for cloud access.
Only time will tell if this is true or not. What is for sure is that this move shows just how much Google’s announcement of Stadia has shaken the competition. The future of the gaming industry is going to be quite interesting.
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