In the document, Google explains its once grand plan to turn this dream into a reality. Consisting of making games playable on three different platforms and many screens. In some ways, Google has brought this plan to fruition through the launch of Stadia. As Stadia is available through Chrome browsers, which can be accessed on both Windows 10 and Mac, as well as Android, Chromebooks, and Smart TVs. In other ways it’s not exactly what Google was cooking up. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that Google isn’t still working towards this goal in some way, shape, or form.
A Google games platform would incorporate Windows, Mac, and Android
Above you’ll find an image that was included with the 70-page document that briefly highlights Google’s idea. The vision was to “harmonize” gaming across platforms, devices, and gaming experiences. Windows, Mac, and Android would be supported platforms. Meanwhile, smart TVs, smart displays, smartphones, and desktops all with controller support represented where gamers could play a collection of titles. The games network was supposed to be a catch-all. Which promoted the ability for developers to have the widest reach possible in targeting gamers. Google services would be the backbone of this network. And a “low-cost, universal” game controller would be available and supported by all these platforms and devices. Many of the document’s slides are redacted, but some of them are not. One slide describes Google’s vision as a 5-year plan with a target execution date of 2025. In addition, Google highlights Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass service as an example of a platform trend. The Verge notes that Google’s plans were presented back in October of 2020. However, since then some of Google’s plans for games has shifted. While Stadia is still alive and kicking, and potentially thriving, Google’s grander plan of an in-house game studio was canned in the beginning of 2021. And more recently, reports have surfaced that Google may be looking to offer Stadia as a white label service. So there’s no telling if the plans in this document are still part of Google’s overall goal with gaming.
