• by Colin Kirkland , August 24, 2023

Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) -- the company behind leading gaming console PlayStation -- has announced plans to acquire Audeze, a California-based audio technology brand known for making high-end gaming headphones.

While Audeze aims to benefit from being part of the PlayStation ecosystem, it will continue to operate independently, developing headphones for competing gaming companies like Xbox, while SIE hopes to utilize the acquisition to strengthen its commitment to gamers’ audio experiences when playing PlayStation games.

Audeze considers itself a “premiere brand for headphones,” as its products are often priced in the thousands, garnering widespread support from dedicated gamers across the globe.

The company justified the acquisition in a recent statement via goals to reach a wider audience as it continues to pursue its mission of delivering high-quality headphones “to recording professionals, audiophiles, and gamers.”

Beyond headphones, Audeze makes a speakerphone, reference headphones and in-ear monitors for music production.

For Sony, the acquisition highlights SIE’s “focus on innovation and providing the best audio experience to PlayStation players,” said SIE SVP Hideaki Nishino, adding that the company is excited to continue the recent audio work it has been doing, including PlayStation 5's Tempest 3D AudioTech and the Pulse 3D wireless headset.

“Due to contractual commitments,” the company said, financial terms of the deal have not yet been disclosed.