In a surprise move, Sony Interactive Entertainment acquires Audeze, potentially expanding the audio landscape for the PlayStation ecosystem.
Sony Interactive Entertainment is upping its audio game with the acquisition of Audeze, a premium headphone brand specializing in audio technology. While the deal’s financial terms remain undisclosed, both companies express enthusiasm about the symbiotic relationship that promises to elevate the audio experience for PlayStation gamers.
California-based Audeze has been a staple in the professional audio and gaming markets for a while now, mainly known for its proprietary planar magnetic drivers. These patented technologies deliver superior sound quality, capturing the attention of audiophiles, recording professionals, and game developers alike. Audeze will continue to function independently but will now benefit from being a part of the broader PlayStation ecosystem.
This acquisition aligns with SIE’s increasing focus on audio innovation. According to Senior Vice President of Platform Experience at SIE, Hideaki Nishino, “Audeze is a premier brand for headphones, and this acquisition highlights Sony Interactive’s focus on innovation and providing the best audio experience to PlayStation players. We’re excited to bring Audeze’s expertise into the PlayStation ecosystem, building on the great strides we’ve made with PlayStation 5’s Tempest 3D AudioTech and the Pulse 3D wireless headset.”
For Audeze, the acquisition offers a platform to scale their business. CEO of Audeze, Sankar Thiagasamudram, stated, “Sony Interactive provides Audeze with a unique opportunity to scale our business, as we continue with our mission to deliver best-in-class headphones to recording professionals, audiophiles, and gamers. We’re also looking forward to contributing to Sony Interactive’s efforts to take PlayStation audio experiences to the next level.”
The timing of this announcement is particularly noteworthy, as it follows Sony’s recent launch of new wireless PlayStation audio devices: the Pulse Elite over-ear headset and the Pulse Explore earbuds. These new products work seamlessly with PlayStation Link, a wireless audio solution that allows multi-device connectivity, including Bluetooth support. It is hard to say how these two brands will work to make audio on PlayStation better, but the timing seems oddly perfect as Sony readies their latest round of PlayStation 5 headphones for release.
While it is hard to know how Audeze will play into the broader PlayStation strategy going forward, the potential of new audio technology for the full PlayStation ecosystem is exciting. CGMagazine will have all the coverage of how this affects Sony and PlayStation as more details slowly emerge.
