Sony sells PlayStation 3's Cell to Toshiba
by Christopher Grant 
{ Oct 18th 2007 at 10:50AM }
As expected, Sony has sold off their Cell chip operations to Toshiba for an estimated ¥100 billion ($858 million), giving the one-time partner in the Cell project manufacturing responsibility for the PlayStation 3's much lauded brain.So, Sony's ailing electronics division gets a much needed cash infusion and Toshiba presumably gets back to work on that first non-PS3 Cell device and that's it? Nope. Sony, and their PlayStation video game unit will continue to invest in the Cell chip (you didn't think they were just going to drop it off at Uncle Toshiba's house and leave, did you?). Of course, we've been told deals like these take a little time; expect this one to be completed by March.
[Via Engadget]
Read – Sony to Sell Chip Operations to Toshiba [AP]
Read – Toshiba press release
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Killjebus @ Oct 18th 2007 11:07AM
It's funny how mega corporations can be at each others throat and in bed making up at the same time. I guess you could say Sony and Toshiba are married. They fight and make up on a daily basis.
FrankTheCrank @ Oct 18th 2007 11:08AM
This is a weird story...like isn't Toshiba one of the developers of HD-DVD?
Business is weird sometimes.
C @ Oct 18th 2007 11:13AM
I was thinking the same thing. It seems like it would be a conflict of interest or at least a very poor decision by Sony.
VampireHunter Z @ Oct 18th 2007 5:32PM
It would be great if they could make up and license players that play both media. So far I've only seen a Panasonic that plays both Blu-ray and HDDVD and it costs an arm and a leg.
Negativecool @ Oct 18th 2007 11:09AM
Ironic:
When Toshiba's HD DVD player that brings down Sony's Blu Ray is sporting a cell processor.
joeyg @ Oct 18th 2007 11:13AM
maybe toshiba will jump on the blu ray bandwagon as well
Negativecool @ Oct 18th 2007 11:21AM
Essentially, since Toshiba is manufacturing the Cell now, they ARE already "on the blu ray bandwagon" considering that each cell they make is a PS3 "brain."
Anyway, if I remember correctly, Toshiba helped develope the cell...So this isn't like Sony is asking some random rival company if they are interested in purchasing their bread and butter hardware device.
Sony is basically just giving them most of the pie instead of just a piece of it.
Killjebus @ Oct 18th 2007 11:56AM
You are correct Negative. IBM, Sony and Toshiba started developing the Cell way back in 2001. This is not that surprising really, this has been in the works for quite some time.
Question, what does Blu-ray have to do with the Cell?
Other than in the PS3,the Cell does not power Blu-ray.
Worm_Buffet @ Oct 18th 2007 11:10AM
"PlayStation 3's much lauded brain?" Much lauded by who? Sony PR? I think "controversial" would be more fitting.
Christopher Grant @ Oct 18th 2007 11:45AM
Despite it being a controversial choice to include in a video game system when they're trying to attract developers, I think the general response from the tech community has been that the processor itself – detached from the politics of video games – is impressive.
blooh (CDF - Nipple Ring) @ Oct 18th 2007 11:54AM
except for gabe, who wants 4 cells duct-taped together
Killjebus @ Oct 18th 2007 11:58AM
Most impressive...indeed you are powerful. Obi-Wan has taught you well.
joeyg @ Oct 18th 2007 11:11AM
aside from Toshiba pushing DVD media, weren't people bitching about the cell? now it will be widely used.
Konny @ Oct 18th 2007 11:11AM
The real money is in owning the patents and ip around the chip design... which is why the largest oem fabs in the world are in Taiwan while the chips are designed in USA and elsewhere.
The1 @ Oct 18th 2007 12:01PM
IBM own all the patents to the CELL, from my understanding.
andyg8180 @ Oct 18th 2007 11:12AM
Enemies in the High-Def format wars becoming butt-buddies in the Cell-Processor world... I wonder what toshiba is plotting... hmmmm...
LiqwidZero @ Oct 18th 2007 11:19AM
Stop production of the Cell processor and say it's a waste of time. That'd cause some chaos.
Eric @ Oct 18th 2007 11:21AM
It's a trap!
NATO_Duke @ Oct 18th 2007 11:24AM
"Sony's ailing electronics division gets a much needed cash infusion..."
Ailing electronics division? Do they have a paper mill or pharmaceutical division to fall back on? Last I checked, electronics were kinda their thing.
MariosInferno @ Oct 18th 2007 11:29AM
Movies??
plyx @ Oct 18th 2007 11:33AM
Music, movies.
Geoffrey Sperl @ Oct 18th 2007 11:38AM
You're forgetting the movie studios, the music arm, the computer entertainment arm (that's the video gaming and and is not the same thing as the electronics division), etc.
It's highly unlikely that you've ever purchased, directly, something from their electronics division. But, if you go digging through a computer (from almost any OEM) you will find Sony components in there (that's the electronics division).
NATO_Duke @ Oct 18th 2007 11:49AM
Good points, didn't really think of the movies and music.
AL Sharpton @ Oct 18th 2007 11:34AM
Great move on Sonys part. BLU RAY IS THE WAY!
Geoffrey Sperl @ Oct 18th 2007 11:40AM
Cell processor != Blu-ray, Al.
blooh (CDF - Nipple Ring) @ Oct 18th 2007 11:44AM
don't bother trying to use logic on a sdf'er, their thick skulls repel logic attacks
upz @ Oct 18th 2007 12:23PM
Sweeping generalizations make you look just as dumb as stupid comments.
Evan @ Oct 18th 2007 11:51AM
Toshiba made the PS2 chip as well.
For such a large company, Sony sure does outsource a lot... Samsung makes their tv panels... Toshiba makes their video game processors... At least Sony still makes their own CCDs.
thispaceforsale @ Oct 18th 2007 11:52AM
by the sea shore?
Jonah Falcon @ Oct 18th 2007 12:35PM
http://www.gamestooge.com/2007/10/18/official-sony-sells-cell-processing-plant-to-toshiba/
Toshiba backs HD-DVD... and there ARE those reports that Sony has been quietly dropping plans for the PS4.
JerJerBinks @ Oct 18th 2007 7:21PM
Speculation taken as fact. You sir, have been modded down.
I would like to point you in the direction of a company called Sun Microsystems, of which designs their processors in-house and has other companies fab them. Unless you are one of the big 3-4 chip companies, its insanely expensive to build and maintain your own fabs. This move makes sense in the long run, more money to spend on R&D, less in producing chips.
Do you think Microsoft has their own fabs? Heh, think again.
Jonah Falcon @ Oct 18th 2007 12:38PM
Translation: Sony is liquidating assets for temporary cash flow.
Layman: Uh oh.
the_game_master @ Oct 18th 2007 12:43PM
Toshiba will somehow make the Blu-Ray movies run inferior on the PS3.
All they have to do is change a few processor instructions inside Cell and vola!.
Xbox 360 HD-DVD ftw.
why not the LS2/LS7? @ Oct 18th 2007 1:02PM
"ailing electronics division"
What is this referring to? The consumer electronics division of Sony is one of their biggest sources of profit right now.
Is this referring to some other Sony division?
ThornedVenom @ Oct 18th 2007 2:36PM
Well, seems like companies have no allegiances when profit comes into play.
Jim @ Oct 18th 2007 5:13PM
Toshiba... wait a minute... that's the HD DVD guys, right?
*LOL*
bluestriker @ Oct 18th 2007 11:36PM
I lol'd. Pretty funny, considering they're competing in the format war...
heckthor @ Oct 19th 2007 3:31AM
ORIGINAL POST >>> Nope. Sony, and their PlayStation video game unit will continue to invest in the Cell chip (you didn't think they were just going to drop it off at Uncle Toshiba's house and leave, did you?)
MY RESPONSE: "You know, for a second there... yeah i kinda did"... LoL...