Samsung To Offer Console Gaming Without The Console

Samsung have announced that it has signed a new deal with online cloud gaming service Gaikai. The new deal will allow customers with a Samsung smart TV access to game titles written for the Sony PS3 and Microsoft Xbox360 without the need for the console.

The tie-up was announced at the E3 trade show and came as a shock to many as rumours had been building that Sony was on the verge of buying Gaikai.

Both companies have released statements. Kyung-shik Lee vice president of Samsung said “Samsung is excited to deliver this revolutionary gaming experience that takes advantage of all the benefits of cloud-computing, all on the central screen of the home,”

Whilst Gaikai's chief executive David Perry said: “Together, we will turn Samsung Smart TVs into a console-like experience capable of delivering the best-selling video games and other content instantly to consumers – no downloads, no extra hardware, no trips to the store.”

Samsung said the service would be made available on its Smart Hub environment on high-end televisions released this year. It will initially be restricted to the US where users will shortly be invited to sign up to a trial.

Kitguru Says: We love the thought of playing a console game without the hardware, but how will this effect the next gen console releases?

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