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Sony and Microsoft to explore strategic partnership

DanielsM

Banned
Console wars are over guys. (just saying)

Companies to collaborate on new cloud-based solutions for gaming experiences and AI solutions

 
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DanielsM

Banned
Play Sony and MS games on the same streaming service?

The latter category includes plans for joint development of cloud gaming technology. While this market is expected to grow as ultrafast fifth-generation wireless gains traction, such services require much processing power on the provider's end to deliver games with high-quality graphics and minimal lag. Sony and Microsoft plan to leverage the American computing behemoth's data centers for this purpose.

and

Outside gaming, the two companies will consider combining image sensors from Sony -- which controls half the global market -- with Microsoft AI technology to develop electronic "eyes" for self-driving vehicles. They will also discuss incorporating Microsoft's Cortana virtual assistant into televisions, speakers and other Sony products.

Cortana is a waste of time as is game streaming, imo.
 
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Shifty

Member
They are, they are just one of many device types - generally speaking.
In the context of streaming perhaps, but unless it becomes ubiquitous (which comes with its own set of problems) I can still see the wars raging on for a good while over the same old stuff.
 

DanielsM

Banned
In the context of streaming perhaps, but unless it becomes ubiquitous (which comes with its own set of problems) I can still see the wars raging on for a good while over the same old stuff.

The war has been over for years, just certain fans don't want to hear it. That is not to say Microsoft won't continue to release Xbox branded PCs, which is where we are at this point, in part.

“I voted no,” Nadella writes. “I did not get why the world needed the third ecosystem in phones unless we changed the rules … But it was too late to regain the ground we had lost. We were chasing our competitors’ taillights.”

Nothing is over. You don’t just turn console wars off.

So true.

Haha. :)

nothing-is-over-nothing.jpg
 

DanielsM

Banned
Damn They must really fear Google.

But I am pretty curious which will be the end result

Nadella wants to sell "services", not necessarily devices. Microsoft has all types of partnerships with Apple and Google, virtually all the tech/game companies have partnerships yet on another hand they are competitors as well. Nadella doesn't want to sell devices and be third place, in a battle he can't win.... he wants to sell "services". The question to me is what happens to UWP/Microsoft Store at this point or in the not too distant future as that is a waste of time.

Isn't it the opposite way around on the picture? (surrender picture)

Posted for correctness. :messenger_beaming:

3022823B00000578-3397254-image-a-24_1452712261414.jpg
 
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octiny

Banned
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.

Our partnership brings the power of Azure and Azure AI to Sony to deliver new gaming and entertainment experiences for customers.

Sounds to me like Sony stood no chance against MS (or Google) w/ higher quality game streaming on a global scale without paying them to use Azure.

In return, MS gets to use Sony image sensors/semiconductors for some AI development.

Nice win for MS, and a win to whoever eventually takes advantage of streaming on both fronts. Sony must've paid a pretty penny on top.
 
Like I said in a previous thread, streaming today is a totally different bag compared to 4-5 years ago. The stakes are higher much much higher. Get in on the ground floor or get left behind. (Possibly)
 
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DeepEnigma

Gold Member
Sounds to me like Sony stood no chance against MS (or Google) w/ higher quality game streaming on a global scale without paying them to use Azure.

In return, MS gets to use Sony image sensors/semiconductors for some AI development.

Nice win for MS, and a win to whoever eventually takes advantage of streaming on both fronts. Sony must've paid a pretty penny on top.

How do you figure?
 

DanielsM

Banned
Is there a PS5 and a new Xbox? Will they have exclusive games? Ain't nothing over.

Technically my Lumia 640 Windows Phone sitting next to me still works, but that war is over as well and has been for a very long time. I expect Microsoft to wrap up UWP and a good portion of the Store at some point. I'm assuming their will be a Xbox Two, but this is over just like the Phone wars are over. Google and Apple won, Microsoft and Blackberry lost.

The war has been over for many years but you always have hold outs. Microsoft wants to sell "services" more than devices, but will release devices to fill in gaps i.e. Surface.

Microsoft will continue to rollout Windows and to an extent Xbox services, they are not all ready yet.
 
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DanielsM

Banned
Cross-streaming!
Stream The Last of Us Part II on your Xbox and Gears 5 on your PlayStation!

Or more like Xbox as a Hardware goes the way of the Windows Phone (extinction), and Microsoft helps/assist in providing services or products to other devices and expands Xbox as a Service Platform.

This has already been done on Phones and Watches i.e. Windows Phone (end of life 2019) and Microsoft Band (discontinued 2016 on eve of the release of v3.), Microsoft now provides apps/services on iOS/Androids/Fitbit, etc.
 
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Or more like Xbox as a Hardware goes the way of the Windows Phone (extinction), and Microsoft helps/assist in providing services or products to other devices and expands Xbox as a Service Platform.

This has already been done on Phones and Watches i.e. Windows Phone and Microsoft Band, Microsoft now provides apps/services on iOS/Androids/Fitbit, etc.
This is a very plausible concept.
 

FranXico

Member
Or more like Xbox as a Hardware goes the way of the Windows Phone (extinction), and Microsoft helps/assist in providing services or products to other devices and expands Xbox as a Service Platform.

This has already been done on Phones and Watches i.e. Windows Phone (end of life 2019) and Microsoft Band (discontinued 2016 on eve of the release of v3.), Microsoft now provides apps/services on iOS/Androids/Fitbit, etc.
Such a change would be gradual, at any rate.
 

octiny

Banned
You make it sound like they gave away the farm with imaging sensors, semiconductors, AI expertise, etc., plus a pretty penny.

I bet it is mutually beneficial to both, and not as steep as others with far less to offer.

Well they don't have much else to offer to MS that they don't already have on the technology front so it's kinda a given they're going to pay a pretty penny (be it a lump sum or yearly) for Azure.

1 data centre estimated to cost 1billion+ to startup. Ms has centres operating in 54 regions around the world with multiple data centres in each region in some cases.

+1

Wonder how much MS is going to make off this deal? Cha-ching.

Why fear Google? Sony all ready has a functional game streaming service

Functional, yes. Good? Debatable to varying degrees.

Edit: People tend to forget Azure is one of the main reasons MS keeps raking in record profits. It's not easy or even remotely feasble to create what MS has created in Azure for 99% of the companies out there.
 
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DanielsM

Banned
Such a change would be gradual, at any rate.
Yup.
The problem is existing Xbox users as the Xbox services in the cloud are not complete yet, it will have to be slow process to transition those users once the services are complete. The issue is UWP/Microsoft Store more than anything, Microsoft will have to keep it open to a degree for Xbox users for quite a while.

The process is going to take a long time.
 
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Bogroll

Likes moldy games
Is there a PS5 and a new Xbox? Will they have exclusive games? Ain't nothing over.
Stranger things have happened, maybe Sony are looking at Microsoft and thinking they're onto something here. Last of Us sales have all but dried up, why not sell it to another potential 40-50m customers.
I ain't saying it's going to happen but you never know. And then Xbox will have a game to play cause there is none apparently lol.
 
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Lort

Banned
As i always said Microsofts real competitors are Apple , Google and Amazon.

Most game devices are phones, Sony dosent make servers or offer cloud services or enterprise solutions.

Sony is just too small and too narrowly focused to be a real competitor to Microsoft.
 
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DanielsM

Banned
As i always said Microsofts real competitors are Apple , Google and Amazon.

Most game devices are phones, Sony dosent make servers or offer cloud services or enterprise solitions.

Sony is just too small and too narrowly focused to be a reL competitor to Microsoft.

Actually, Sony has quite a bit of "cloud services" beyond game streaming, mostly film type products/services. It depends on your definition of "cloud service", I think the words have lttle to no meaning - I technically run cloud services from my house. The whole purchase of Gaika is cloud services. Not that I think cloud gaming will ever be a mass product or service.

 
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Panajev2001a

GAF's Pleasant Genius
You make it sound like they gave away the farm with imaging sensors, semiconductors, AI expertise, etc., plus a pretty penny.

I bet it is mutually beneficial to both, and not as steep as others with far less to offer.

Reality of Xbox division likely being billed by the Azure division just as Sony is and the fact that MS cares a huge amount about getting more and more people on Azure rather than screwing third parties over to favour XCloud is still hitting people...
 

DanielsM

Banned
Just for comparison sake AWS operates in 21 regions, Azure operates in 54 regions. That alone probably tells us why Sony went with MS

Sony has agreement with Amazon for AWS as well, matter of fact, a good portion of Sony's cloud services are integrated with AWS. They might have some specific planned for PS Now/xCloud but all fo the tech companies do business with one another. I think there is a ton of wishful thinking going on with game streaming as I mentioned in the other thread. The devices themselves just don't mean much to Microsoft at this point, especially if they are not a leader in the specific device category. Nadella wants to sell services.
 
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