cloud gaming service shadow taken over by ovhcloud founder
Shadow Cloud Gaming Service Acquired by Octave Klaba’s Fund
Blade, the French company responsible for the cloud gaming service Shadow, has been acquired. This acquisition follows a ruling made by a commercial court. The purchasing entity is a fund managed by Octave Klaba, a prominent figure in the French cloud industry.
Octave Klaba and OVHcloud
Klaba is widely recognized as the founder of OVHcloud, a leading French provider of cloud hosting solutions. It’s important to note that the acquisition of Blade and Shadow is being conducted through Klaba’s investment fund, Jezby Ventures, and is separate from OVHcloud’s operations.
Understanding the Shadow Service
Shadow provides users with access to a powerful gaming PC hosted in a remote data center. A monthly subscription grants access to this virtual machine.
Users can connect to their Shadow PC from a variety of devices, including computers, smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs. The service streams video output to the user’s device while relaying their input back to the server.
Shadow’s Unique Approach
Unlike competing services such as Google Stadia, Amazon Luna, and Nvidia GeForce Now, Shadow offers a fully customizable environment. Users are able to install any software they choose on their virtual server.
The service provides a complete Windows 10 installation, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of applications. This extends beyond gaming to include professional software like Steam, Photoshop, and Excel.
Financial Difficulties and Administration
Despite successfully raising over $100 million in funding, Blade faced significant challenges. The company struggled to fulfill existing pre-orders and lacked the financial resources for sustainable growth and expansion.
Although Shadow attracted a user base of 100,000 paying subscribers, the company was ultimately compelled to enter administration proceedings with the commercial court, as reported by Next INpact.
Takeover Bids and the Acquisition
Multiple parties expressed interest in acquiring Blade. These included a team led by Blade’s CTO, Jean-Baptiste Kempf, alongside other employees, and a separate bid submitted by Octave Klaba.
Klaba’s plan for the future of Shadow involves retaining all current employees with the exception of Jean-Baptiste Kempf.
Future Outlook for Shadow
The coming weeks will be crucial in determining the future direction of the Shadow service. Current subscription prices begin at €12.99 per month in Europe and $11.99 per month in the U.S.
It remains uncertain whether these pricing levels will be maintained, how the service’s technical specifications will evolve, and whether the company will invest in expanding its server infrastructure to accommodate new users.
Romain Dillet
Romain Dillet: A Profile of a Leading Tech Journalist
Romain Dillet served as a Senior Reporter for TechCrunch until April 2025. Throughout his tenure, he became a recognized authority within the technology sector.
Extensive Experience and Expertise
Having authored more than 3,500 articles, Dillet has cultivated a strong reputation as a key voice concerning European technology. His areas of expertise are broad, encompassing startups, AI, fintech, privacy, security, blockchain, mobile technology, social media, and the broader media landscape.
Dillet’s thirteen years with TechCrunch have made him a well-known figure within the publication. He began his career there at the age of 21, consistently providing coverage of Silicon Valley and the tech industry.
Recognized Authority in the European Tech Scene
Currently based in Paris, Romain Dillet is widely regarded by many within the tech community as the most informed tech journalist in the city. His insights are highly valued.
Early Identification of Key Startups
A key skill of Dillet’s is his ability to identify promising startups before they gain widespread attention. He was the first journalist to report on Revolut, Alan, and N26.
Furthermore, he has broken exclusive stories regarding significant acquisitions made by major companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Snap.
Technical Depth and Historical Perspective
Beyond his journalistic work, Romain Dillet is also a skilled developer. This technical understanding allows him to analyze the underlying mechanisms of new technologies effectively.
He also possesses a comprehensive understanding of the computer industry’s evolution over the last 50 years. This historical context enables him to connect innovations to their broader societal impacts.
Educational Background and Philanthropic Work
Romain Dillet is a graduate of Emlyon Business School, a prominent French institution specializing in entrepreneurship.
He actively supports several non-profit organizations, including StartHer, which focuses on the education and empowerment of women in technology, and Techfugees, an organization dedicated to assisting displaced individuals through technology.