14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has responded to the recent acquisition of reputed cloud gaming company Gaikai by Sony, saying that it’s already offering cloud services to users of its Xbox Live service.
Sony surprised a lot of people by purchasing well-known cloud gaming company Gaikai yesterday and already many are wondering what the Japanese corporation will do with its acquisition.
Microsoft isn’t worried by its rival’s aggressive move, however, as a representative of the company told GamesIndustry that it was already offering cloud features through its Xbox Live service and would continue to improve this aspect.
"The cloud has been a key component of our strategy and a big area of investment with Xbox for many years," the representative said. "Through Xbox LIVE we're serving up gaming and entertainment in the cloud to more than 40 million people."
Microsoft is, in fact, offering a cloud-based service to Xbox Live users that allows them to upload their save games online and access them no matter what Xbox 360 console they’re using.
Gaikai, however, offers much more, as customers can play games on the company’s servers and have the gameplay footage streamed to their own device.
Even if the difference is quite large, Microsoft is confident that its own cloud services will improve and delight customers especially with the advent of the Windows 8 operating system for the PC and for mobile phones, not to mention the intriguing SmartGlass tech we saw at E3 2012.
"We're committed to delivering extraordinary entertainment experiences across devices in a uniquely connected way through Xbox, Windows Phone, Windows 8 and other popular devices, and we're looking forward to continuing to innovate in this space in the future."
Do you think Microsoft should go on the offensive and buy its own cloud gaming company, like OnLive, in order to counter Sony’s efforts?