Posted in: Games, Video Games | Tagged: Kenichiro Yoshida, microsoft, Microsoft Azure, Satya Nadella, sony

Sony and Microsoft to Partner Over Cloud-Based Game Solutions

This might be one for the history books, as rival tech giants Sony and Microsoft have announced a partnership to collaborate on "new cloud-based solutions for gaming experiences and AI solutions." The partnership will mostly affect consumer experiences for both Xbox and PlayStation systems, the companies' game streaming services, and even some of their AI and semiconductor systems.

The partnership's innovations on cloud gaming will be based on the Microsoft Azure AI system, giving Sony access to Microsoft's proprietary AI.

If nothing else, the partnership will make things a bit easier for content creators and stream audiences on both sides of the current-gen console debate, as the companies seek to "deliver more enhanced entertainment experiences" and build "better development platforms for the content creator community."

From Microsoft:

Under the memorandum of understanding signed by the parties, the two companies will explore joint development of future cloud solutions in Microsoft Azure to support their respective game and content-streaming services. In addition, the two companies will explore the use of current Microsoft Azure datacenter-based solutions for Sony's game and content-streaming services. By working together, the companies aim to deliver more enhanced entertainment experiences for their worldwide customers. These efforts will also include building better development platforms for the content creator community.

As part of the memorandum of understanding, Sony and Microsoft will also explore collaboration in the areas of semiconductors and AI. For semiconductors, this includes potential joint development of new intelligent image sensor solutions. 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. In terms of AI, the parties will explore incorporation of Microsoft's advanced AI platform and tools in Sony consumer products, to provide highly intuitive and user-friendly AI experiences.

Along with the press release explaining the collaboration, Sony CEO Kenichiro Yoshida and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella offered some color commentary.

"Sony is a creative entertainment company with a solid foundation of technology. We collaborate closely with a multitude of content creators that capture the imagination of people around the world, and through our cutting-edge technology, we provide the tools to bring their dreams and vision to reality," commented Yoshida. "PlayStation itself came about through the integration of creativity and technology. Our mission is to seamlessly evolve this platform as one that continues to deliver the best and most immersive entertainment experiences, together with a cloud environment that ensures the best possible experience, anytime, anywhere. 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. Additionally, I hope that in the areas of semiconductors and AI, leveraging each company's cutting-edge technology in a mutually complementary way will lead to the creation of new value for society."

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

More information on the partnership will be announced at a later date.

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