PlayStation Studios‘ cloud technology looks set to be dramatically improved now that Haven Studios has officially become a member of the group. The acquisition deal between the two companies was made official today and studio founder Jade Raymond has explained how both their “forward-thinking R&D” and expanding on their “studio in the cloud” technology was one of the main attractions for PlayStation.
Improving cloud technology at Haven Studios
Haven Studios originally started as a cloud team with no office, Raymond told GamesIndustry.biz. Those six people were “working on new ways to work” via the cloud, but the studio has since hired more than 20 more engineers to “focus on long-term cloud innovation because we really believe it’s going to be a game-changer in terms of how games are made.” Instead of making a cloud game, the team is focusing on improving cloud technology for other game developers to use in the future.
One of the other features attracting the attention of fellow PlayStation Studios is how the studio operates. Haven has no IT in the studio because everything is automated in the cloud, and this has created some inspiration for those studios. Their “forward-thinking R&D” has also caught the attention of the PS4 and PS5’s lead system architect Mark Cerny, although Raymond wouldn’t elaborate on this too much at the moment.
Sony announced its intention to acquire Haven Studios back in March, but the deal has only been finalized today. As well as the improvements in cloud technology, Haven is developing a PS5-exclusive AAA live service game based on a new IP. As such, their new engine has to cope with delivering a live service game, PlayStation-level graphics, and constant updates that would be needed for their own game, and that will take time to develop. Hopefully, we hear more soon.
In other news, Sony wants to become the “Nike of gaming gear” with their new INZONE hardware. Elsewhere, if you want to know what new games you can pick up this week on PS5 and PS4, we have a full list.
