Your PS4 experience is set to be a Shared Experience as outlined in the article we’ve just posted about Remote Play. Players across the world will be able to take over for you when you’re in the middle of a game – but that’s only one part of the puzzle. With Gaikai gaming technology, you’ll be seeing your favorite PlayStation 3 games being able to be played from your smartphone, your tablet, your PS Vita, and your PC.

If you’ve been following Gaikai, you know that they’ve been purchased by Sony (last year) and are now revealing that the work they’ve done is not just made for the PlayStation 4, but for the whole PlayStation universe. You can expect to work with games like Knack with its multi-player action and Hawken – already available in free Beta mode on PC – to be available through Gaikai’s software in the future for all devices. It’s time to stream!

Have a peek at the timeline below to see more information surrounding the PlayStation 4 and the abilities and features it contains throughout the day and into the future. Make sure you’re aware of the details piece-by-piece as Sony stretches this event into tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that as well. This is the big one!

This game is just one of many we’re seeing today, with the PlayStation 4 showing off that the system is able to take games and push them into the future with next-level finesse. Shown in the user interface demonstration of the PlayStation 4, Knack has been shown as a fully interactive game that can be seen by users across the web. You’ll be able to stream your game for your friends to see at any time over the web, they being able to take control of your character from their own PS4 if you get in a tough spot.

With connectivity over the next-generation PlayStation Network you’ll be able to work with your friends on your Knack game with great ease. This game appears at first to be a one-player game, but opens a window into the future where even one character can become the avatar of multiple users.

All of this is made possible through Sony’s connection with Gaikai – more on that soon! Stay tuned to SlashGear to see more PlayStation 4 throughout the day and the week as this big, giant, massive release allows Sony to bust forth into the future – it’s finally here!

Previously, it was speculated that PlayStation 3 games would not be backwards compatible with the PlayStation 4 because the PlayStation 4 would be utilizing a new AMD x86 chip. The chip would be incompatible with the architecture in the previous consoles. Gaikai’s cloud-gaming service would be the solution to that. Also, it’s speculated that with the Gaikai cloud-gaming streaming service, PlayStation 3 titles may not just be limited to the PlayStation 4. It could be streamed to the PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 3 itself, and even tablets and smartphones. Of course, it’s up to Sony to utilize it that way.

Gaikai will not be streaming PlayStation 4 titles because the max resolution it can output is 720p. Streaming the games would also require Gaikai servers to be relatively close to Playstation 4 users, and for the users to have a great internet connection. Gaikai only has experience streaming PC games, so even streaming PlayStation 3 will be a new challenge for the company.

The PlayStation 4 is speculated to cost about 40,000 yen, or $400, and it will be announced at Sony’s press conference in just two days. There, we will hear the details of the console and all it’s glory. It was just recently brought to our attention that Gaikai would be attending the conference as well, leading us to believe that the two have a huge, joint announcement for all of us.

After all, it’s already being touted that users will be able to hack the device in order to play unofficial game titles through the Android software. Streaming video game devices appear to be the big thing these days. Onlive is as popular as ever, and is poised to get a large boost when it fully integrates with Google TV. And Sony just acquired Gaikai, the other key player in the “Netflix for video games” market.

Of course, Android isn’t exactly the biggest name in the world of gaming, or even in the world of mobile gaming. So it certainly will be a test to make Ouya a success. According to a now-removed listing on AngelList.com, some of the individuals involved in the Ouya project are people who have previously been part of such high-profile projects as One Laptop Per Child, Jawbone Jambox, Peek, and Color. It’s expected that the Ouya will sell for $99.

[via Examiner]

However, it was discovered that in the technical specifications and documentation for the impending Blu-ray device, Sony listed OnLive connectivity as an optional accessory. Now, however, the company has wiped any reference to OnLive in connection to the player. What most likely happened was that Sony was working on the Gaikai deal behind closed doors, but wanted to have the OnLive compatibility there just in case.

Or, it could very well be that the team working on the Google TV Blu-ray player had no clue about Gaikai and so they just put OnLive connectivity there since it is compatible with Google TV products. It will be interesting to see Sony specifically exclude one of the newest Google TV services from a Google TV product, but that’s the way the business world works.

[via VentureBeat]

Sony has been talking about its “Four Screen” strategy since late 2011, with then-CEO Howard Stringer using the phrase to describe an holistic ecosystem of PC, tablet, smartphone and TV. Sony “spent the last five years building a platform so I can compete against Steve Jobs” Stringer said at the time, a platform that was just ready to launch the chief exec insisted.

The strategy was one picked up by Stringer’s replacement, Kaz Hirai, arguing that user experience and not hardware would turn Sony around. ”The foundations are now firmly in place for the new management team and me to fully leverage Sony’s diverse electronics product portfolio,” Hirai said when he took the new position, “in conjunction with our rich entertainment assets and growing array of networked services, to engage with our customers around the world in new and exciting ways.”

Sony isn’t the only firm chasing “new and exciting ways” to encourage people to stick loyally to its products and services. Possible candidates for an OnLive grab include HTC, which has already invested $40m into the company back in early 2011, though has so far failed to capitalize on that bar an abortive preload on the HTC Flyer. It’s also questionable whether it would go up against Sony on mobile gaming: last month, HTC became the first third-party company to sign up as a PlayStation Certified partner.

So, who else has a gap in its mobile gaming strategy? Microsoft’s Windows Phone has the promise of Xbox LIVE running between it, Xbox 360, Windows and the new Surface tablets, along with Xbox SmartGlass to sew up the multi-screen gap. That’s not to say a cloud gaming system like OnLive wouldn’t fit in there too, and the two companies have already been working together to some extent on OnLive Desktop. A hosted desktop in the cloud might be an interesting addition to Windows RT tablets, and bypass future need to develop ARM-specific Office releases.

Then again, perhaps Samsung is a better candidate. The South Korean company has already admitted that it is relatively lacking in software “competitiveness”; more recently, its new mobile CEO reiterated that “a particular focus must be given to serving new customer experience and value by strengthening soft capabilities in software, user experience, design, and solutions.” It has a cloud-based photo and video sync system, but no serious gaming option despite, like Sony, having a footprint in TV, phones, tablets and PCs.

Google and Apple are the two cash-rich heavyweights, and each might be a good fit for OnLive. There’d be no shortage of server-farm space with either, certainly, and both iOS and Android could certainly benefit from an injection of cloud gaming. For Google, it would also turn new devices like the Nexus Q and existing, struggling platforms like Google TV into instant consoles; the same could be said for the Apple TV, and Apple already has AirPlay Video for using an iPad, iPhone or iPod touch as a wireless controller.

Then there’s NVIDIA, though so far it’s shown more interesting in supplying CUDA processing to cloud gaming companies than actually owning one itself. Back in May, in fact, it announced a deal with Gaikai to use GRID processing to power streaming game content. Where that deal stands in the aftermath of the Sony acquisition is unclear right now.

What we do know is that gaming is going to be an increasingly vital element for any company hoping to take the reins of its future in the mobile space, and the cost of acquiring OnLive would likely be quickly outweighed by its value in that ecosystem. We can already hear the rustle of checkbooks.

Who do you think would make the best fit for OnLive? Or should the company continue to go it alone? Let us know in the comments!

Sony has not said when it expects the $380m acquisition to close (assuming it clears the usual regulatory hurdles) but it’s not hard to speculate around where the company could take the cloud technology. The company has been talking about its “four screen” strategy for some time now, bringing together its PlayStation, VAIO PC and tablet, and freshly-acquired Xperia strands into a more holistic platform.

There’s also the possibility of a more computing-related use for the Gaikai tech, perhaps augmenting Sony’s existing PlayMemories Online service that rivals Google Drive. “With this acquisition,” the company said in a statement, “SCE will establish a cloud service and expand its network business by taking full advantage of Gaikai’s revolutionary technology and infrastructure including data centers servicing dozens of countries and key partners around the world.”

A deal with a cloud gaming provider was rumored back in May, with Sony tipped to be weighing a takeover of either Gaikai or OnLive. It’s unclear at this stage what will happen to Gaikai’s existing deals with other providers; the company is ramping up for a launch with Samsung to put cloud gaming on the South Korean firm’s Smart TVs this summer.

Meanwhile, Sony’s second-gen Google TV range looks to be readying for OnLive support, though there’s no word on when it might actually be enabled.

Gaikai has reportedly been working with Samsung for the past nine months on the deal with the US launch set for this summer. The partnership involves Samsung buying bandwidth dedicated to the SCG from Gaikai’s 24 data centers and paying on a per-device basis. Any overflow in traffic will be handled by Gaikai.

The deal will be a way for Samsung to more quickly enter the gaming business to compete with Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo without having to push its own separate console. The Gaikai-powered SCG service will be free for users, however, it only offers game demos and not full versions of the games. Samsung is expected to start looking for beta testers very soon.

[via VentureBeat]

Sources indicate that the deal is close to being signed, and it has far reaching implications for the Japanese company. It would enable Sony to potentially offer PlayStation games on devices other than its consoles, such as Smart TVs, phones, and tablets. Gaikai recently partnered with NVIDIA and LG to bring its game streaming service to televisions, and that could be what Sony is hoping to do with a purchase of such a company.

It makes sense, with Sony already invading homes with televisions, tablets, and smartphones, so why not use them? The company has tried to PSOne games on Sony smartphones, and devices like the Xperia Play failed to take off, but unifying PlayStation games that would work across all Sony hardware thanks to streaming would be a smart play. Whatever happens, Sony is expected to reveal all at its E3 press conference on Monday June 4th. The live press conference will kick off at 9pm EST/6pm PST.

[via Edge]

The two Kepler GPUs on the GRID card will be able to crunch their way through the latest games without too much trouble, while CUDA performs H.264 video encoding duties in realtime. NVIDIA say that takes pressure off CPUs, reducing energy consumption and proving more efficient than other solutions. On top of that, the company says its fast streaming technology cuts lags down to just 10ms, although ultimately your internet connection will be dependant on how well you can play the game.

So what’s the plan beyond that? NVIDIA and Gaikai showed off a virtual console though, streaming games to an LG Smart TV controlled using a wireless game pad. It looks like the duo will leverage Smart TVs and Android devices going forward rather than offering dedicated hardware like OnLive’s Game System.

Several game developers seem to be onboard with the scheme, such as Epic Games, Capcom, and THQ, although it remains to be seen when the final app will appear. In the meantime, wander over to Gaikai’s website for a glimpse of the shape of things to come.

[via Android Community]

Gaikai offers a game streaming service similar to OnLive and like similarly must tackle the issue of providing gamers more ergonomic controls when certain console games are transferred over to the touch-only tablet interface. OnLive sometimes offers a touch-control overlay and also offers a separate Bluetooth controller hardware that can connect to tablets. But the problem of ergonomics remain.

With WikiPad’s hardware design, Gaikai may be able to provide a better solution. The WikiPad has a wrap-around attachment with full gaming controls, including two analog sticks. The tablet itself is also supposed to support both 2D and glasses-free 3D, while an optional accessory will let you use the WikiPad to play games on your TV.

[via Gaikai]

Lord of the Rings Online is a game that’s not gotten an extremely large amount of press from non-gaming-centric sites thus far, but with the ability to play such a game with minimal effort like this, there’s no knowing what games might gain traction. It’s surprising that LOTR hasn’t come across even our radar here at SlashGear more than a few times, with a group such as Gaikai having to be the ones to bring it all on to the main terminal – that said, it’s all very exciting! There’s an astounding amount of MMORPGS out there now here in our very accepting of gaming as more than a hobby world, and allowing play with as simple a sequence as we’ve got here can only mean great things for such titles as Dungeons & Dragons and LOTR.

You’ll be able to play online SOON straight through each game’s own webpage: Lord of the Rings Online and Dungeons & Dragons Online.

As Robert Stevenson, EVP at Gaikai notes on the subject:

“MMOs have always been one of the key genres that we’ve wanted to deliver via the cloud – never before has it been possible to play MMOs in this way. And we couldn’t be more pleased to showcase Gaikai’s technology by streaming Dungeons & Dragons Online and The Lord of the Rings Online, which are both fantastic multiplayer gaming experiences with legions of loyal fans.” – Stevenson

For those of you who have never been there, Gaikai also has a wide range of games which you can both play and preview right from your web browser. No need for installations of any kind, and minimal wait time allows you to get gaming quick as a flash. It’s a must try for any and all lovers of games with minimal time on their hands to get down to business!

[via Gear Diary]