PlayOnline goes with HP as Square announced deal

SquareSoft has announced that it has sealed a deal with PC hardware manufacturer Hewlett Packard to install and maintain the infrastructure for Square’s online gaming network PlayOnline.

Square will take on board an undisclosed number of Hewlett Packard’s flagship servers, model NetServer lp1000, that will form the mainstay of the online operation.

HP has stated the initial server base will be able to support gaming for 300,000 players simultaneously.

Also announced as part of the same deal was server-dedicated engineering by Hewlett Packard for Square’s upcoming online RPG, Final Fantasy XI