GameSpot may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and from purchases through links.

Sony Acquires Company Behind Tool Used In Hundreds Of Games, But It Won't Go PS4-Only

A move that should benefit Sony's future game consoles.

14 Comments

Sony Interactive Entertainment has acquired Audiokinetic, the creators of Wave Works Interactive Sound Engine (Wwise). Wwise is a piece of software specifically tailored for audio design in video games and other interactive media, and it's been used by dozens of both triple-A and indie developers in hundreds of games.

"A rich and all-encompassing audio experience is increasingly critical to the overall gameplay experience, further enhancing immersion and emotion for the player," said Sony Interactive president and CEO John Kodera. "Audiokinetic is a preeminent provider of audio solutions for the gaming industry, and we are confident that this acquisition will allow us to further grow the PlayStation platform and contribute to the broader gaming industry."

Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos.
This video has an invalid file format.
00:00:00
Sorry, but you can't access this content!
Please enter your date of birth to view this video

By clicking 'enter', you agree to GameSpot's
Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Now Playing: Free PS4/PS3/Vita PlayStation Plus Games For January 2019 Out Now

The acquisition is expected to close by the end of January, but Audiokinectic will continue to operate on its own. "It's our goal to support Audiokinetic's efforts to advance its audio technology while maintaining independence and platform neutrality," Kodera said.

Wwise has been used by developers for pretty much every system platform for the past two generations, including Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, Xbox One, PS4, Wii U, Switch, PC, and mobile devices. Games that have used Wwise include several mainline Assassin's Creed games, BioShock Infinite, Rocket League, Destiny, Firewatch, Alien Isolation, Monster Hunter World, Overwatch, PUBG, Nier: Automata, and many more.

Sony's PS4 had a fairly good year in 2018. The console continues to support some of the best first-party exclusives on the market--some of which are on sale right now. However, Sony made a few missteps with the console as well. The company stubbornly refused to reverse its position on cross-platform play with Xbox One and Switch until finally relenting with the success of Fortnite. PlayStation Now's potential continues to remain unfulfilled, and PlayStation Classic pales in comparison to what Nintendo delivered with its NES and SNES Classic consoles. Sony's acquisition of Audiokinectic suggests the company is looking for new avenues to improve its products, which points to a more promising future for whatever comes after PS4.

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

Join the conversation
There are 14 comments about this story