NBN to influence Sony PS4's Gaikai service launch date

Sony PlayStation will keep a close eye on the developments surrounding Australia’s National Broadband Network (NBN) before finalising an official date for the local launch of its Gaikai cloud-based gaming service.

Sony Computer Entertainment Australia's MD Michael Ephraim told Technology Spectator that traditionally the company would launch the feature at the same time as Europe, as per the strategy with most of their other product launches. As it stands, the Gaikai service will launch in Europe in 2015.

However, Mr Ephraim added that the launch date may be altered depending on the outcome and progress of Australia’s National Broadband Network.

“As you know, (with) any kind of streaming gaming service, the infrastructure needs to be there to give consumers a quality experience,” Mr Ephraim said.

“We're keeping an eye on the NBN and with the change of government and the change of [NBN] plans; it’s a bit muddled at the moment.

“As far as an exact date, it’s a bit early to announce anything,” he said.

Since the initial announcement, Sony has continually shifted the launch date of the Gaikai cloud offering.

The company originally planned for an international 2014 launch of the Gaikai service, but cited poor network infrastructure as a reason to push back the European launch to 2015. The US version of the service will still go live in 2014, but this has been pushed back from Q1 2014 to Q3 2014.

The Gaikai cloud gaming service was touted by Sony as a key feature of its new PlayStation 4 console. Aside from promoting disc-less gaming, the service is also set to be used by Sony to house older PS3 games that cannot be played on the PS4.