Sony looks to streaming for PlayStation
May 21, 2019
Sony plans to shift its gaming business to a streaming model, available across multiple devices and platforms, it has told investors. Elsewhere, the group will work on more cost savings and synergies, including with its content businesses.
For its PlayStation brand, Sony signalled a shift away from hardware to creating a more “immersive” experience; the recent agreement with Microsoft is part of this strategy. The shift is to combat new rivals in the gaming market, with subscription services planned from both Apple and Google.
PlayStation 4, which is expected to reach 100 million units in cumulative sales this calendar year, will evolve into a streaming game server, providing streaming content at the closest point to users, Sony said. The subscription service PlayStation Now also will be expanded to other users, without a PlayStation 4 console.
The group will continue to make a games console, focusing on a more immersive experience. This will be created by “dramatically increased” rendering speeds, through extra computational power and a customised ultra-fast, broadband SSD.