Return Entertainment, a cloud gaming platform focused on smart TVs, has entered into a strategic partnership with Aethir, a company known for providing enterprise-grade GPUs-as-a-service. This collaboration aims to significantly scale Return Entertainment’s platform, allowing it to deliver high-quality gaming experiences on smart TVs worldwide.

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Return Entertainment IPs

Return Entertainment, which debuted its first title, Rivals Arena, on Samsung Smart TVs in the U.S. in May 2024, is designed to make gaming accessible directly through smart TVs without the need for a console. Rivals Arena is a cinematic card battler that emphasizes couch co-op play and utilizes a unique control method where players use their smartphones as controllers by scanning QR codes. The game is monetized through advertisements shown between rounds.

One Billion Smart TVs Globally

The partnership with Aethir is seen as a pivotal move for Return Entertainment as it aims to expand its reach to nearly one billion smart TVs globally, focusing particularly on those that are not connected to gaming consoles. Aethir’s decentralized cloud computing network is designed to reduce latency, which is a critical factor in cloud gaming, ensuring that players experience stable and smooth gameplay even with just a basic internet connection.

Vesa Jutila, CEO of Return Entertainment, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating in an interview with GamesBeat: “Return Entertainment’s cloud gaming platform, powered by Aethir’s distributed GPU infrastructure, is a match made in heaven. By combining our strengths, we’re creating a one-stop solution for cloud-native smart TV gaming.”

Aethir and Return Team Up

Fresh $9 Million in Funding

Aethir has been actively expanding its presence in the gaming industry, particularly within the web3 gaming space. The Singaporean company recently secured $9 million in funding and has inked several deals to support web3 gaming with its decentralized GPU network, including partnerships with GameSwift, Meta Gravity, and Sequence.

From Aethir’s perspective, this collaboration aligns with its broader mission to democratize access to high-end gaming technologies. Daniel Wang, CEO of Aethir, highlighted the significance of this integration, noting that it represents a major step forward in advancing cloud gaming technologies.

Paul Thind, Chief Revenue Officer of Aethir, added in the interview with GamesBeat: “We are incredibly proud of this collaboration. By leveraging our combined technologies, we aim to capture global attention around the smart TV gaming experience.”

Enhancing Cloud Gaming for Smart TVs

Final Thoughts

While the partnership between Return Entertainment and Aethir sets the stage for an expanded global presence, it remains unclear when Return Entertainment’s gaming titles will be available in markets outside the U.S. As the collaboration progresses, it is expected to play a significant role in shaping the future of cloud gaming on smart TVs, making high-quality gaming more accessible to a wider audience. More information is available here.