Google secretly working on a social mobile gaming startup called ‘Arcade’

Google is reportedly working on creating a mobile social-gaming startup, according to a report published by Bloomberg.

The founder and co-owner of the internal Google company, reportedly called Arcade, is Michael Sayman, a 21-year-old that started at Facebook as an intern at 17. He then left the social network to join Google’s parent company, Alphabet, last year.

Arcade’s first project is set to release later this summer, with speculation indicating it will be trivia focused in some way. Given the popularity of HQ Trivia, as well as the game’s efforts to create a social network within the experience, it makes sense for Google to opt for a similar strategy when it comes to Arcade’s first title.

In an interview with Bloomberg, a Google spokesperson confirmed Arcade exists, emphasizing that the studio is focused on “mobile gaming with friends.”

The project is part of Google’s Area 120 initiative, a division of the company that allows employees to work on startups that operate inside Google.

Arcade’s games won’t be linked to social networks with Google instead aiming to create a network out of the game itself. Google’s attempt at creating a Facebook Clone, Google Plus, never really took off, though it still remains online today.

Google is also rumoured to be working on a console gaming hardware device called Yeti. The system is reportedly capable of streaming games from the cloud, though little is known about the often-rumoured project currently.

Source: Bloomberg