Gaming news outlet Kotaku has made a bold claim regarding the console gaming market. They state that they've heard from reputable sources that Google plans to get into the gaming industry. Though details are a bit fuzzy, Kotaku maintains that Google will be using a streaming platform as its focus, and there will be a specific hardware that'll be sold. They also plan to acquire some game developers in order to create games for the platform.

Buying out game developers isn't an uncommon occurrence--another large company, Microsoft, took 5 companies under its wings shortly before E3 without much of a deal, and Google itself is no stranger to buy-outs. It's definitely feasible. According to journalists in the industry, Google also had a large presence at this year's Game Developer's Conference, meeting with companies in order to discuss the potential for a streaming-based video game service, codenamed Yeti at the time.

In terms of streaming for video games, there's two major services out there that gamers might know of: GeForce Now and PlayStation Now. Both of these let players utilize any sort of supported hardware to play games. It also lets players experience titles that might not run normally on their computers, or running them without storing the download on a hard drive, and removing the need to buy discs or carts.

That, of course, brings in the long-fought debate of digital over physical, and the industry's recent push towards a potential all-digital future. Plus, Google is known for starting projects and then leaving them to rot on a whim. If any company could manage to pull off such a feat, it would be Google who could possibly make it work.

What are your thoughts? Would you want a digital-only streaming alternative to play your games on, or do you prefer having your own hardware and physical games? Do you think the infrastructure is there to support it? Will Google follow through?

Source

 

[Stephano]

"Family friendly games that don't offend anyone incoming*

 

[Deleted User]

streaming only games for perpetuity? hell no lol.

doesn't matter if they have AAA games, streaming only just kills every chance of succeeding since a bad internet means you cant play it at all, also renting all those streaming games will be a nightmare because in 1 or 2 years they close the streaming and your money is gone lol.

This will be a bigger flop than steam boxes.

thankfuly they will soon be offering fast internet to go with that lol

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

I've been curious to hear how Google handles Yeti, bit of a shame this batch of rumors is pretty much exactly the same as February's were so nothing new here .

Definitely won't be some new console competition though, more like a GeForce Now/PS Now competitor tied to an Android TV Box. While I don't think game streaming like that should become any kind of main stream, it'll be nice to see more competition from big companies instead of just Sony and Nvidia and then a bunch of small time devs. Google certainly has the manpower/techpower to create a "decent" game streaming service. And who knows, maybe this will push them to put Google Fiber in more cities so more people can take advantage of it

 

[dAVID_]

I'll always prefer having physical games than relying on an internet connection to play them. A few examples of overdigitalization is when you buy a game, and upon opening the title on your console, you need to download a 50 GB "patch" in order to play it. It's almost as if the disc itself is a physical download code for your game.
Back to streaming: What if you're on a trip? What if the internet connection of the place you'll be staying in is poor or none at all? The only way streaming is viable is if there was a reliable internet connection in every place in the world.

 

[Jacklack3]

I mean yeah it could be cool but if you have a bad internet connection it'd suck to play the games, let alone doing online multiplayer with it. If they were to make it all digital I hope they do a card system as well cause adding an account is a little bit of a hassle and cards are just a good gift in of itself.

 

[MikaDubbz]

In a not too distant future where the internet will be available around the world for free at fast speeds at all times, I can see a streaming only platform being a viable product, but until then it will always have its issues.

 

[pedro702]

In a not too distant future where the internet will be available around the world for free at fast speeds at all times, I can see a streaming only platform being a viable product, but until then it will always have its issues.

even then people might want to you know, buy the damn game so they can keep it and play it whenever they want instead of renting the game for a limited time like all streaming platforms.

 

[DeslotlCL]

The fact that there are still companies who belive video game streaming services are viable in a wolrd where most countries have shitty as fuck internet...

 

[MikaDubbz]

even then people might want to you know, buy the damn game so they can keep it and play it whenever they want instead of renting the game for a limited time like all streaming platforms.

Sure, I'm just saying there could be legit interest and thus a real market for such a product at such a time. There would always be such people that need the physical releases, but they alone don't make up the entire market obviously.

 

[pedro702]

Sure, I'm just saying there could be legit interest and thus a real market for such a product at such a time. There would always be such people that need the physical releases, but they alone don't make up the entire market obviously.

im not talking about physical heck even digital the game gets on your console and you can play it latter, streaming only is renting games not own them at all.

 

[the_randomizer]

Lol, Android games don't even have replay value or depth, good luck with that

 

[Deleted User]

Name of the Console: Google Play
Companies that makes the games:

-EA
-Ubisoft
-Gameloft
-Rovio
-King

Nintendo then will come with their monopoly, attempting to buy Google Play with hopes to keep Angry Birds for his upcoming console: Nintendo Swap

 

[Steena]

streaming only games for perpetuity? hell no lol.

doesn't matter if they have AAA games, streaming only just kills every chance of succeeding since a bad internet means you cant play it at all, also renting all those streaming games will be a nightmare because in 1 or 2 years they close the streaming and your money is gone lol.

This will be a bigger flop than steam boxes.

People said the same exact thing when GFWL tried to add a sub online fee for online access, or when steam and digital stores started getting implemented, or when people saw pubg released on tablets, or with the horse armor regarding nedlessly lucrative DLC, or founders packs offering access advantage in online games, or with selling alpha-state games with cash shops fully implemented, or selling 30 year old ROMS for $5 . . .

Never underestimate how willing to get stomped in the balls the general consumer is, as long as something becomes part of the social media circle it will be accepted no matter what, there are zero standards or zero lines in the sand, ground is always given with no consideration as long as you push gently and slowly

 

[MikaDubbz]

im not talking about physical heck even digital the game gets on your console and you can play it latter, streaming only is renting games not own them at all.

All the same, there would be people interested, obviously not yourself. Pretty moot to talk about at this time anyway though as the world isn't yet in a state that would make this the viable product it needs to be to get such interest from the market.

 

[Chipidy]

View attachment 133795​

Gaming news outlet Kotaku has made a bold claim regarding the console gaming market. They state that they've heard from reputable sources that Google plans to get into the gaming industry. Though details are a bit fuzzy, Kotaku maintains that Google will be using a streaming platform as its focus, and there will be a specific hardware that'll be sold. They also plan to acquire some game developers in order to create games for the platform.

Buying out game developers isn't an uncommon occurrence--another large company, Microsoft, took 5 companies under its wings shortly before E3 without much of a deal, and Google itself is no stranger to buy-outs. It's definitely feasible. According to journalists in the industry, Google also had a large presence at this year's Game Developer's Conference, meeting with companies in order to discuss the potential for a streaming-based video game service, codenamed Yeti at the time.

In terms of streaming for video games, there's two major services out there that gamers might know of: GeForce Now and PlayStation Now. Both of these let players utilize any sort of supported hardware to play games. It also lets players experience titles that might not run normally on their computers, or running them without storing the download on a hard drive, and removing the need to buy discs or carts.

That, of course, brings in the long-fought debate of digital over physical, and the industry's recent push towards a potential all-digital future. Plus, Google is known for starting projects and then leaving them to rot on a whim. If any company could manage to pull off such a feat, it would be Google who could possibly make it work.

What are your thoughts? Would you want a digital-only streaming alternative to play your games on, or do you prefer having your own hardware and physical games? Do you think the infrastructure is there to support it? Will Google follow through?

Source

I think a big company like Google SHOULD make a gaming console .will it be good? No idea probbaly. But all we really have is Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft . It's getting lonely.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

I'm willing to bet it's nothing more than a "gaming" focused Android TV box similar to the Nvidia shield TV. I doubt they're planning to compete directly against the big 3.

So I wouldn't expect any "triple a" titles on any such thing. Android gaming as it is can be pretty underwhelming to anyone other than the causal market. And if it's streaming only then that's even worse. At least Nvidia made some attempts to port over titles to native code on the shield TV.

I agree, but I think Google has been secretly looking at what Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo has been doing. Learning what consumers like and want.

 

[DeslotlCL]

Lol, Android games don't even have replay value or depth, good luck with that

Certainly, but hey, there a few exceptions. A few good rpgs and others good little games that serve the porpuse of time wasters

 

[Pluupy]

Google should just stick to being a search engine and little services like email and blog. This business venture is a waste of money.

 

[Deleted User]

Ouya 2

 

[Redhorse]

' Google goggles™ '
for VR streaming& gaming you heard it here first.

 

[DarthDub]

Google, just stop. You have no idea what you're doing..