We’ve known for a while that Google has been experimenting with game streaming. Now, it seems that its research may be coming to a head. Recently, the company sent out emails teasing that it will reveal something new during GDC this year.
“All will be revealed at the Google Keynote,” the email said. “10:00am on March 19, 2019. Find us in the Moscone South, San Francisco.”
While it isn’t anything definite, it’s speculated that the company could be revealing the fruits of its game streaming labor that day. After all, Google has been playing around with the technology. Last fall, the company invited people all around to try out Project Stream. A host of people were able to beta test the service by playing Assassin’s Creed Odyssey via Google Chrome.
Not-So-Secret Projects
There were rumors floating around a year ago that the company was working on a subscription game streaming service project, code-named Yeti. According to the initial report by The Information, the service could perhaps be used through Google’s Chromecast. It was also speculated that the company could reveal a set-top box or gaming console that uses the service. Kotaku broke the news last June that Google was hunting for investors for Project Yeti during GDC that year.
“At the Game Developers Conference in March of this year, Google representatives met with several big video game companies to gauge interest in its streaming platform, which is code-named Yeti, sources said,” wrote Kotaku’s Jason Schreier.
With two sources of information talking about a Project Yeti, Google certainly doesn’t seem to mind if people are peaking at its cards. Perhaps keeping a loose lid is a way to drum up some excitement, but who really knows? All we do know is that the Game Developers Conference seems to be the place Google has been making its moves regarding the service. It makes sense that it will make this year’s conference a stage for its big reveal.
There’s also a strong chance that ex-PlayStation and Xbox executive Phil Harrison is involved with the project. He joined Google in January last year. Harrison helped launch the PlayStation back in 1995. He later worked with Gaikai, a game streaming service, before spending a few years as the corporate vice president for Xbox. If anyone knows how to support a gaming platform, Harrison is a strong bet.
We’ll update you on Google’s big reveal (whatever it is) when it happens this March during the GDC.
Published: Feb 19, 2019 07:43 pm