News

Google spins up mobile social games start-up Arcade

Developing a new kind of social network

Google spins up mobile social games start-up Arcade

Google is building up a mobile social games start-up inside the company called Arcade.

Confirming the news to Bloomberg, a Google spokesperson said the new studio is “focused on mobile gaming with friends”.

However, they added that “it’s a very early experiment so there aren’t many details to share right now”.

Social network

According to Bloomberg sources, the idea behind the studio is to create a new kind of social network, with a game effectively acting like one after it reaches a large enough audience.

Its first project is said to utilise elements of a trivia game and is expected to release in the summer.

The new start-up is being headed up by Michael Sayman, who previously worked at Facebook for a number of years as a software engineer and product manager before joining Google in 2017.

It’s part of Google’s ‘Area 120’, in which Google employees are given the opportunity to create their own start-up within Google, much like how Pokemon Go developer Niantic was created.

Get the latest news, interviews and in-depth analysis on Twitter, Facebook and our daily newsletter.


Head of Content

Craig Chapple is a freelance analyst, consultant and writer with specialist knowledge of the games industry. He has previously served as Senior Editor at PocketGamer.biz, as well as holding roles at Sensor Tower, Nintendo and Develop.