According to “people familiar to the issue” Google is planning on jumping into the console business in Spring this year with the release of an Android console.
Google does some incredibly cool things and also has a long track record of spectacular failures as they aren’t scared to try anything to see if it works. Well in my humble opinion if they do decide to enter the console wars they are lining themselves up for yet another magnificent failure.
Google at king at search and not much else to be honest. The Android operating system is very cool but massively fragmented and while there are a ton of games that work on Android they aren’t actually games that people want to play on their TV.
Just look at the terrible reviews of the Ouya to see that entering the console market is a bit more complicated than throwing a box together and hoping people will make good games for it.
However according to the sources the only reason Google is doing this is to counter Apple’s expected entry in the market. Which will also be a failure so I guess they’ll have someone to whine to about how the market is closed and controlled by the main publishers.
Last Updated: June 28, 2013
Happy Hamster
June 28, 2013 at 11:35
And my opinion is
Theo Steenekamp
June 28, 2013 at 11:38
Ye because android is such a screw up?? Yet its your opinion:) Saying that about one of the most successful companies on the planet who endeavour to up the quality of every piece of technology they lay their hands on. AND they have such a great attitude towards the community which in turn would make them listen and react better to what people want. Not like MS who had to get so bad publicity to get their minds changed. I am saying, it could work. Just think about the company as a whole before you state a claim of fail.
Happy Hamster
June 28, 2013 at 11:47
Do you really think that google stands a chance in the Console Business?
Theo Steenekamp
June 28, 2013 at 12:05
Like ElimiNathan said. Don’t knock it before you try it. With the potential they have. Yes I do. And btw, its Friday, have some positive thoughts 🙂
HvR
June 28, 2013 at 12:08
Most people said/implied the same thing 10 years ago about MS with the Xbox.
Happy Hamster
June 28, 2013 at 12:10
in my opinion i think google missed the console bus , They should have entered that era a while ago and not now
HvR
June 28, 2013 at 13:28
While MS only entered console market on a serious level with the current 7th generation. Consoles have been around for decades (gosh I feel old saying that) with the big names rising and falling over the years.
I do think they are to late for next generation but if they are serious they should test the waters with a “Beta” unit like MS did with the Xbox and then come out swinging in the second half of next gen cycle.
I do think where they have the edge over any other possible newcomer is Android which can be molded into a proper console OS and google play which has the possibility of being the first truly digital only distribution network. They have the potential to change the market into a more developer centric arena by enabling developers a bigger piece of the pie and even making gaming cheaper hobby.
Scruff304
June 28, 2013 at 12:27
I was going to say the exact same thing. MS totally bottled it before, and then along came the 360. I don’t see any reason for google to not make a success of this. The biggest hurdle for these kind of projects is capital… I we know that google have A LOT of that…
ElimiNathan
June 28, 2013 at 11:37
Don’t knock it before you try it
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
June 28, 2013 at 11:39
Remember when a certain analyst was convinced that the shelf life of console gaming was limited …. Oh Pachter, you so funnnneeee!
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
June 28, 2013 at 11:40
I love Android as a phone OS but I have to agree with Gavin here. On consoles it wouldn’t be great and won’t work. Neither would an Apple console. Just leave it to the big boys at Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo guys.
RinceWind
June 28, 2013 at 11:52
Who’s Nintendo? I vaguely recall the name… trololo!
Alex The Cuttlefish
June 28, 2013 at 11:56
I really don’t want another console in the market. Having 2 main ones is bad enough already. More consoles will just destroy our friendships!
Trevor Davies
June 28, 2013 at 11:56
There are massive entry barriers to compete with the big 3 already established in the console space. Unless they’re developing something more in line with an entertainment device for TV & stuff as opposed to an actual games console.
FoxOneZA - X-Therminator
June 28, 2013 at 12:01
I would never underestimate Google. Not with the amount of money they have.
Umar Kiiroi Senk?
June 28, 2013 at 12:05
IOS has amazing games and there are many of those games that are yet to be ported because Android devices are not the same across the board. So if there was a single powerful android console , There could really be some amazing games for it. After playing Chaos Rings and Drakerider, I Have a lot of faith in good quality console like games for Mobiles and I think it could translate well for a console
CaptainNemo42
June 28, 2013 at 12:07
I got a feeling Google wouldn’t even try to compete with Sony and Microsoft. They’re probably going for the casual, $99 per unit market. And with a marketing budget of Google behind it, and Google Play connected to it. I think it might work.
We harcore peeps need to realise that not every piece of gaming hardware that’s being made is intended for us.
Trevor Davies
June 28, 2013 at 12:24
You take that back right now!
Ultimo_Cleric N7
June 28, 2013 at 12:17
Silly Google is silly
Uberutang
June 28, 2013 at 13:53
If OUYA is so bad why are there no stock available?
I would love to own one.