Samsung Cloud Gaming, developed in partnership with Gaikai, a cloud-based video game platform provider, will stream a mix of family-friendly and AAA video games directly to owners of 2012 Samsung LED 7000 series and up Smart TVs in the US.
Introduced during the E3 event in Los Angeles, Samsung Cloud Gaming gives Smart TV users instant access to some of the video game industry’s biggest titles, without any need to download, install or patch/update games.
“Samsung is excited to deliver this revolutionary gaming experience that takes advantage of all the benefits of cloud-computing, all on the central screen of the home–Samsung Smart TV,” said Kyung-shik Lee, VP, visual display business at Samsung Electronics.
“With Samsung Cloud Gaming, Samsung’s leadership in Smart Content and commitment to providing consumers with an innovative Home Entertainment experience is evident. “
“We could not be more thrilled to be working with Samsung, the world’s leader in consumer electronics,” said David Perry, CEO of Gaikai “Samsung Cloud Gaming will greatly expand the reach of the best games our industry can provide, then make them just as accessible as movies, TV shows and music.”
Gaikai is an interactive cloud platform that provides its partners with the ability to deliver video game and software application experiences instantly to any internet-connected device. Gaikai’s offers its global cloud streaming network as a fully managed service and is live in 88 countries with partners.
Headquartered in Southern California, Gaikai is backed by Benchmark Capital, NEA, Rustic Canyon Partners, Limelight Networks and Intel Capital.
Broadband TV Views. Ever since the introduction of tablets, hand-held game devices are in trouble. With relatively cheap games the market for expensive game cartridges is under pressure from iPads and Android tablets.
With the introduction of cloud gaming, Samsung is entering the game console market and might pose a similar threat to traditional gaming consoles and the business of expensive games that come with it.
No wonder, traditional console makers are trying hard to expand the functionality of the set-tops – mainly focussing on adding streaming video and music services to the platform in addition to gaming.
Samsung’s deal with Gaikai throws the cat among the pigeons. The Korean based company has no gaming console of its own, so it can extend its smart TV functionaloity without any risks.
For Sony, this will be a different matter., but we expect the company to add cloud gaming to its Bravia smart TVs in the near future. They can’t afford not to jump on the bandwagon.
