Sony and Microsoft announce strategic partnership

---

​Those happy chaps pictured above are Kenichiro Yoshida, President and CEO of Sony Corporation (left), and Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft (right). The two tech giants have formed an alliance in order to "collaborate on new cloud-based solutions for gaming experiences and AI solutions."

---

by Chris Brand

@pass_controller

---

Both parties have signed a memorandum of understanding - a formal contract which signifies their intentions but is not necessarily legally binding. Under it, they plan to "explore joint development of future cloud solutions in Microsoft Azure to support their respective game and content-streaming services."

By working together, they hope to "deliver more enhanced entertainment experiences" to customers worldwide, including building better development programs for content creators.

There's a lot of tech talk in the press release but the gist is that they are looking to share ideas and tech to bolster both companies' products and services, alongside creating new opportunities.

Yoshida of Sony had this to say:

"Sony is a creative entertainment company with a solid foundation of technology. We collaborate closely with a multitude of content creators that capture the imagination of people around the world, and through our cutting-edge technology, we provide the tools to bring their dreams and vision to reality.

PlayStation itself came about through the integration of creativity and technology. Our mission is to seamlessly evolve this platform as one that continues to deliver the best and most immersive entertainment experiences, together with a cloud environment that ensures the best possible experience, anytime, anywhere.

“For many years, Microsoft has been a key business partner for us, though of course the two companies have also been competing in some areas. I believe that our joint development of future cloud solutions will contribute greatly to the advancement of interactive content. Additionally, I hope that in the areas of semiconductors and AI, leveraging each company’s cutting-edge technology in a mutually complementary way will lead to the creation of new value for society.”

Microsoft's Nadella also weighed in on their partnership:

“Sony has always been a leader in both entertainment and technology, and the collaboration we announced today builds on this history of innovation. Our partnership brings the power of Azure and Azure AI to Sony to deliver new gaming and entertainment experiences for customers.”

More details will be revealed by both companies when available.

What do you think about the partnership? Let us know below or over in the forums.

COMMENT ON THE FORUMS