Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (SCEI) and Nvidia announced today that they have been working together to develop the custom graphics processing unit (GPU) for SCEI ?s next-generation computer entertainment system. The collaboration between SCEI and Nvidia includes chip development, and a variety of graphics development tools and middleware for content creation, stated Ken Kutaragi, executive deputy president and COO, Sony Corporation, and president and Group CEO, SCEI.

SCEI will use the jointly-developed GPU with the recently-announced Cell processor to power its next-generation entertainment systems. The Cell processor is being co-developed by IBM, Sony Group and Toshiba, and is a multicore chip comprising a 64-bit Power processor core and multiple synergistic processor cores, according to a November 29 press release. Cell is optimized for compute-intensive workloads and broadband rich media applications, including games, movies and other forms of digital content, the press release stated.

SCEI and Nvidia are working under a broad, multi-year, royalty-bearing agreement.

The custom GPU will be manufactured at Sony Group's Nagasaki Fab2 as well as at OTSS (the joint fabrication facility of Toshiba and Sony).