Loading organizations...
§ Private Profile · Aliso Viejo, CA, USA
Cloud gaming platform developing streaming technology for video games, enabling instant play for publishers by streaming from remote servers.
Gaikai is an Aliso Viejo, California-based technology enterprise that develops cloud-based streaming infrastructure for video games, enabling consumers to play high-fidelity titles instantly across internet-connected televisions, computers, and mobile devices without requiring local software downloads. Prior to its corporate acquisition, the platform functioned as a remote server network providing interactive game demos and trials for major software publishers, securing enterprise customers including Electronic Arts, Ubisoft Entertainment, and Warner Bros. The company scaled its cloud gaming operations significantly before being acquired by Sony Computer Entertainment in July 2012 for a valuation of $380 million. Following this strategic transaction, the organization shifted its primary business model from serving third-party publishers to integrating its proprietary streaming technology directly into the broader PlayStation hardware ecosystem. Gaikai was officially founded in 2008 by David Perry, Andrew Gault, and Rui Pereira.
Gaikai has raised $75.0M across 4 funding rounds.
Gaikai has raised $75.0M in total across 4 funding rounds.
Gaikai has raised $75.0M across 4 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $30.0M Other Equity in July 2011.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 20, 2011 | $30M Venture Round | NEA | Benchmark Capital, Intel Capital, Qualcomm, Rustic Canyon Partners | Announced |
| Jul 1, 2011 | $30M Series C | NEA | Alpha Edison, Bdmi Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments, Benchmark, Canvas Ventures, National Grid Partners, Trinity Ventures, Peter Moran, Intel Capital, Qualcomm, Rustic Canyon Partners | Announced |
| May 1, 2010 | $10M Series B | — | Alpha Edison, Bdmi Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments, Benchmark, National Grid Partners, Trinity Ventures, Peter Moran, Rustic Canyon Partners, TriplePoint Capital | Announced |
| Jan 1, 2010 | $5M Series A | — | Benchmark | Announced |
Gaikai was a pioneering cloud gaming technology company that developed high-quality, fast interactive cloud-streaming technology for video games, enabling instant play across devices without downloads.[1][2][4] Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Aliso Viejo, California, it served game developers, publishers, and consumers by solving latency and accessibility issues in online gaming through internet-based streaming to TVs, PCs, mobiles, and more.[1][2] Acquired by Sony Computer Entertainment in 2012 for $380 million, Gaikai powered PlayStation Now, Sony's game streaming service, marking early momentum in cloud gaming before its technologies were fully integrated into Sony's ecosystem.[1][2][3]
Gaikai was founded in November 2008 by David Perry, Rui Pereira, and Andrew Gault in Aliso Viejo, California.[2][3] David Perry, a veteran game developer known for titles like Earthworm Jim, drove the vision for cloud-based gaming to bypass hardware limitations and enable instant play.[2] The idea emerged amid rising broadband adoption, addressing the need for seamless game demos and full titles over the internet; early traction came from partnerships demonstrating streaming to diverse devices, culminating in Sony's acquisition in July 2012 to bolster its network services.[1][2]
Gaikai rode the early wave of cloud computing and streaming, predating widespread services like Google Stadia or Xbox Cloud Gaming by enabling high-fidelity game delivery over broadband.[1][2][4] Its 2012 timing aligned with accelerating internet speeds and the shift from physical media to digital ecosystems, favoring market forces like console wars and mobile gaming explosion.[1][3] Post-acquisition, it influenced Sony's PlayStation ecosystem by powering PlayStation Now, validating cloud gaming's viability and paving the way for industry-wide adoption amid ongoing bandwidth improvements.[1][2][3]
As a Sony subsidiary since 2012, Gaikai's standalone identity has evolved into integrated tech within PlayStation's cloud infrastructure, likely fueling expansions like enhanced PlayStation Plus streaming.[1][3] Trends such as 5G rollout, AI-driven compression, and cross-device play will amplify its legacy, positioning Sony to dominate amid rivals like Microsoft and NVIDIA. Its influence endures as a foundational player, tying back to its roots in making gaming ubiquitous—watch for deeper AI integrations to redefine instant, high-fidelity play.[1][2][3]
Gaikai has raised $75.0M in total across 4 funding rounds.
Gaikai's investors include NEA, Benchmark Capital, Intel Capital, Qualcomm, Rustic Canyon Partners, Alpha Edison, BDMI - Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments, Benchmark, Canvas Ventures, National Grid Partners, Trinity Ventures, Peter Moran.