Google could unveil gaming console next month

If reports are to be believed, search giant Google could be serious about its expansion into the video gaming industry. It's been quite some time since we have heard about Google's unconfirmed 'Project Yeti,' a gaming hardware platform. Now, a report has it that Google will take the wraps off its game-streaming hardware at the upcoming Game Developers Conference (GDC) next month.

Google has confirmed it is hosting a keynote at GDC 2019. So, the least we can expect from Google is to reveal its expansion plan into the vast untapped potential the video gaming segment has to offer. Google has scheduled its keynote at Game Developers Conference for March 19 at 10:00 am PST (11:30 pm IST).

What to expect

There is so much that we don't know yet. However, Kotaku reported last year that this whole plan revolves around only three important factors: Hardware, streaming platform and game developers. To explain, Google would come up with a Netflix-like platform but only for games. Secondly, Google would build its hardware. Third and perhaps the most important factor, Google would bring major game developers under its umbrella to maintain some exclusivity when it comes to popular game titles.

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Why is it important for Google

Google is one of the major tech corporations in the world and some of its existing products and services play an important part in our daily life. Therefore, Google has to keep growing and gaming is yet another direction. Plus, gaming would open up some new opportunities with regards to acquisitions and data for Google, which would further help Google to enhance its ad business.

What does it mean for gamers

Right now, it doesn't mean much to gamers or the publishers. As we said, we hardly know anything just yet. According to Polygon's report, bringing game developers under its ecosystem could be a risky move. Exclusivity might anger gamers in case they are forced to buy a new hardware console only to be able to play their favourite game.