Sony's gaming division just bought an AI startup that turns photos into 3D volumes
Sony Interactive Entertainment, owner of the PlayStation brand, has acquired Cinemersive Labs , a UK startup developing tools to convert 2D photos and videos into 3D volumes. The startup team will join Sony's Visual Computing Group , a research engineering team focused on graphical technology, including game rendering, video coding and generative AI models. Cinemersive's most recent product is a virtual reality app called Parallax that works as a viewer for parallax photos ā three-dimensional images that you can peer around with natural head movements ā captured using traditional smartphones and professional cameras with stereo lenses. The startup developed custom AI tools to convert 2D images into 3D volumes to make Parallax possible, and Sony apparently wants to apply that expertise to its own projects. "Following the acquisition, the Cinemersive Labs team will join SIEās Visual Computing Group (VCG) and contribute to our broader efforts in advancing state of the art visual computing within games," Sony says. "This includes applying machine learning to enhance gameplay visuals, improve rendering techniques, and unlock new levels of visual fidelity for players." Machine learning has been a major focus of Sony's efforts to improve graphical performance on the PlayStation 5 and future hardware. The PlayStation 5 Pro was designed around a new GPU, faster storage and PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR), custom AI upscaling tech that let the console run games at a lower resolution and then upscale them to 4K. The company recently squeezed even more performance out of the Pro with an
Sony Interactive Entertainment, the company behind the PlayStation brand, has recently acquired Cinemersive Labs, a UK startup specializing in converting 2D photos and videos into 3D volumes. This acquisition marks a significant step for Sony as it aims to enhance its graphical technology and push the boundaries of visual computing within its gaming division.
Cinemersive Labs, known for its virtual reality app Parallax, has developed cutting-edge AI tools that enable the conversion of 2D images into 3D volumes. Parallax, the startup's most recent product, allows users to experience parallax photosāthree-dimensional images that can be explored with natural head movementsācaptured using traditional smartphones or professional cameras with stereo lenses. The app has garnered attention for its innovative use of AI, and Sony sees the potential to apply this expertise to its own projects.
Upon completion of the acquisition, the Cinemersive Labs team will integrate into Sony's Visual Computing Group (VCG), a research engineering team focused on advancing graphical technology. The VCG is responsible for game rendering, video coding, and generative AI models, and the addition of Cinemersive's expertise will undoubtedly strengthen Sony's position in the field of visual computing.
Sony's statement outlines the company's intentions to leverage Cinemersive's AI capabilities to enhance gameplay visuals, improve rendering techniques, and unlock new levels of visual fidelity for players. Machine learning has been a focal point for Sony in recent years, particularly in efforts to optimize graphical performance on the PlayStation 5 and future hardware.
The PlayStation 5 Pro, designed with a new GPU, faster storage, and PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR), showcases Sony's commitment to leveraging AI for upscaling. PSSR allows the console to run games at a lower resolution and then upscale them to 4K, providing a superior gaming experience. Sony has continued to refine this technology, releasing an updated version of PSSR in March, which further enhances the performance of the PlayStation 5 Pro.
In addition to its work with PSSR, Sony is collaborating with AMD on Project Amethyst, a multi-pronged initiative aimed at improving ray tracing and upscaling capabilities for future consoles. This partnership underscores Sony's dedication to pushing the boundaries of graphical technology and ensuring that its gaming platforms remain at the forefront of innovation.
The acquisition of Cinemersive Labs is a testament to Sony's commitment to investing in cutting-edge AI and visual computing technologies. By integrating the startup's expertise into its Visual Computing Group, Sony is poised to enhance its gaming division's capabilities and deliver even more immersive and visually stunning experiences to players. As the company continues to innovate and refine its AI-driven technologies, the future of gaming on PlayStation platforms looks set to be more vibrant and detailed than ever before.
