John-ShepardSony has acquired Gaikai for $380 million, and quite a few analysts say that it was a solid idea. One even called it a "genius move."
According to GamesIndustry.biz , which posted up several analyst responses to the purchase, industry insiders are applauding Sony. Here's what EEDAR boss Jesse Divnich had to say:
"Without a doubt this was a genius move by Sony. Although they've been doing quite well in video games, as a company Sony has been struggling. What the acquisition of Gaikai really does is it helps to future proof Sony, because no matter where the industry transitions, whether we're getting entertainment through Wi-Fi, through a Blu-ray player or discs at the store, it doesn't matter because no matter where technology goes over the next 10 years, they will be able to utilize Gaikai and its technologies to deliver entertainment straight to the consumer."
It really is all about the future, as other analysts went on to say. You shouldn't expect the Gaikai purchase to have a tremendous impact on the current console; rather, it'll likely be reserved for the PS4, which will undoubtedly focus more on digital and streaming entertainment. As IDC Research Manager Lewis Ward said:
"I think this is ultimately more about the PS4 platform than PS3, although I wouldn't be surprised to see some streaming game demos at least surface in Home and in the PS Store within the next year. I think Sony will hold off on the streaming of AAA games until the PS4 arrives and they can offer some interesting subscription levels. "
Many are expecting an all-digital future, and that includes console manufacturers and game publishers. That being said, you shouldn't expect regular retail products to disappear any time soon, cloud or no cloud.