The deal with Gaikai is – according to rumours this afternoon – to enable PlayStation 2 and PS1 game streaming on current generation devices. We’ve been hinting at and discussing this for a little while, but GI have gone live with some additional information so it’s worth revisiting the story ahead of next week’s much-rumoured E3 reveal.
According to the site, the streaming deal will initially open up first party games but Sony are apparently trying to get third party publishers to get on board and sell their games via the new partnership. TheSixthAxis hopes that both the PS3 and PS Vita will be able to make use of this new service, although obviously we can’t confirm anything.
It’s also widely expected to tie into PlayStation Plus.
Crocadillian
Thats pretty ‘meh’. I don’t really trust Sony to do this well, and this seems rather pointless when emulation is possible for both the PS Vita and PS3. Look forward to a miniscule catalogue and bad service :l
JBoo
I would rather SONY bring out a new PS3 with PS2 playback so i can play all my PS2 discs on it(that is the 100 billionth time i have said that on the internet i bet now) :D
psychobudgie
They don’t need to bring out a new PS3. The fact that they are releasing PS2 titles on the store proves that ALL PS3 hardware can run PS2 titles using software. But why release it in firmware when they can sell it to you.
Tuffcub
If it just PS1 and PS2 games then count me out.
Mr_writer
I thought you were ITK? Maybe ps1 and 2 is merely baby steps, try it out, the graphics would be easier to stream as they are not HD. Make it a ‘pay a sub and get unlimited accsses’ service and enough people may pay. Add a plus discount and even more may bite. Then we may see ps3 demos, and then who knows.
Eurogamer are claiming they are getting ready to use this service for BC for the PS4 since they are dropping the cell. There was a report saying they have scrapped the idea of a disc driveless console as there is parts of the world can’t cope with a pure digital console, so they are probably looking at alternative methods.
Foxhound_Solid
I love this. I love my PS+
cc_star
Seems a waste of streaming tech just for games like that, although it would be cool to dabble with some PS2 games again, but most of the ones I’d want probably won’t appear like NHL2002 & SSX3/Tricky.
Beyond an initial dabble, let’s face it going retro would hardly set the world alight PSOne games barely raise an eyebrow on PSN & I’ve heard precisely zero people get excited about PS2 games that have appeared.
Where streaming tech comes into it’s own is playing games far too superior for your system eg. Witcher2 or Crysis2 on a netbook or PS3 games via Remote Play on PSP/Vita (if devs bothered to tick the box)
If your bandwidth allows it; playing PC or PS4 quality graphics, textures, effects, resolutions & framerates on PS3, PSP, Vita & Sony Certified devices is exciting, not using the opportunity the tech brings you to go backwards!!!
Kaminari
“Software emulation” got a whole new meaning…
I’ll keep my pristine component PS2 k thx.