Sony is reportedly using custom-designed PlayStation 3 hardware to support the company’s recently announced PlayStation Now game streaming service. Cloud platform server units will feature eight consoles built into a single rack server.
“Gaikai was primarily a software team, but once it was bought up by Sony it was suddenly faced with a problem that could only be tackled by bespoke hardware,” according to game technology expert Richard Leadbetter. “In creating new PS3 servers for the PlayStation Now, the team worked closely with their new colleagues in engineering, creating a new PS3 adapted to the cloud streaming challenge.”
As reported earlier, Sony’s PlayStation Now game streaming platform will allow Sony hardware owners (including PS4/PS3 consoles, handheld PS Vita and other Sony devices like HDTVs, tablets and smart phones) to stream games from PlayStation Now cloud servers.
The service is scheduled to roll-out in mid-2014, with a closed beta period beginning this month.
