Report: Google considering game machine, looking at Ouya

Ouya may face some serious competition in the future. According to a new report by the Wall Street Journal, Google is looking into preparing its own gaming console.

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Android-based gaming console Ouya officially launched this week. However, it may face some serious competition in the future. According to a new report by the Wall Street Journal, Google is looking into preparing its own gaming console.

The report mentions that Google is also looking to develop a follow-up to the Nexus Q, an Android-powered media device. While the report suggests these are two separate projects, it's likely that a new TV-connected Nexus device would serve as both a media player and games console.

According to the report, "Google is hoping to combat similar devices that Apple Inc. may release in the future." Sources say that Google is concerned that games will become a larger part of the next version of Apple TV. Given Apple's newly-added support for gaming controllers, that conclusion seems like a safe bet.

The company has also been "watching" Ouya. The console sells for $99--significantly less than what the original Nexus Q launched for: $299. Apparently, the next version of the device will be "much less expensive." If Google can match Ouya's price point, offer media services in addition to games, and support the entire Google Play library, the entire Android gaming scene might look drastically different.

Andrew Yoon was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

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  • reply
    June 27, 2013 6:46 PM

    Andrew Yoon posted a new article, Report: Google considering game machine, looking at Ouya.

    Ouya may face some serious competition in the future. According to a new report by the Wall Street Journal, Google is looking into preparing its own gaming console.

    • reply
      June 27, 2013 6:54 PM

      This is getting out of hand........

      • reply
        June 27, 2013 6:54 PM

        It's 1983 all over again.

        • reply
          June 27, 2013 7:03 PM

          Luckly I don't see it getting that bad, considering many of the consoles that could be seen as pointless (Ouya, this Google thing, Nvidia's Shield) use the same base OS (Android) so at least you wouldn't have to have 12 consoles to play everything, but still.

          • reply
            June 27, 2013 7:18 PM

            Isn't Ouya trying to get some exclusive games though?

            • reply
              June 27, 2013 7:27 PM

              Yes. And Ouya doesn't support Google Play.

            • reply
              June 27, 2013 7:30 PM

              I'm sure that all of them want some exclusive titles....but as long as it doesn't become the rule this will be more of an annoyance than anything.

              I wonder if this will be the beginning of the end to mobile android gaming. If there is a strong influx of exclusive android games that hit the market, I strongly believe that Android phones will be the hardest hit.

              Doesn't Google own Android?

    • Ziz legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
      reply
      June 28, 2013 5:11 AM

      Oooh they wanna buy out Ouya.

    • reply
      June 28, 2013 5:15 AM

      I wonder how long until abandon it if they actually do this?

      • reply
        June 28, 2013 5:19 AM

        ^^^^^ It's incredible how often people say this lately regarding google products now, they've really bought themselves some ill will in the last 18 months, terminating gmail / gmail apps features, reader and god knows what else.

        Google the 'google product graveyard' - it's a website which is kind of fucking crazy how much shit they've killed off and not all of it rubbish.
        Between prism and shutting shit willy nilly my interest in signing up to more of their products is minimal at best.
        Google+ is a graveyard and will continue to be.

      • reply
        June 28, 2013 5:51 AM

        exactly, I wouldn't touch this with a 10 foot pole

      • reply
        June 28, 2013 6:41 AM

        Remember Nexus Q? Hah!

      • reply
        June 28, 2013 7:56 AM

        ha ha, google destroys everything they touch, they are the new zynga

    • reply
      June 28, 2013 7:55 AM

      Super stoked that those guys that already had money, that got an insane kickstater to shit out this thing will get a big pay day from google out of this.

      bizness.

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