Google Is Testing Launching Cloud Games Directly From Search Results
It looks as though Google has begun integrating Cloud Gaming services into its search results.
The Nerf Report’s Bryant Chappel noted in a series of Tweets (below) that the new feature appears to be rolling out across the search giant’s results pages. It gives users the ability to directly launch a cloud game from the search results using Google Stadia, as well as other cloud services.
The addition of a “Play” button to select search results allows you to launch the game you searched for directly from Stadia – provided it exists on the platform. And that’s a neat step forward when it comes to integrating cloud gaming across the Google platform.
It looks like the Google search engine has a new update for cloud gaming platforms!!!
When searching for a game players can now launch a game directly from the search results utilizing @GoogleStadia. pic.twitter.com/xblOsBpF6O
— Bryant Chappel (@BryantChappel) August 11, 2022
It certainly feels like a natural progression for cloud gaming – reducing the time taken to go from looking up a game to actually playing it.
Considering we’re talking about Google here, integrating cloud gaming features across its other services is a neat move, but it’s not just Google products being integrated here. It turns out, that this also works for Xbox Cloud Gaming, and some other services, too.
Xbox Cloud Gaming (xCloud) games can also now be launched directly via the Google search results page. pic.twitter.com/LeYbBk7SFH
— Bryant Chappel (@BryantChappel) August 11, 2022
Other cloud gaming services that appear in this manner include Amazon Luna and Nvidia’s GeForce Now.
However, when IGN attempted to replicate these results, we didn’t find the impressive new feature. Whether or not this is geo-locked or simply being rolled out across select users for testing is unclear. A likely scenario is that Google is A/B testing across its services, and that means that this new feature may (or may not) eventually be rolled out more comprehensively.
Nevertheless, it’s an interesting new feature that really taps into the potential of cloud gaming. After all, going from search result to playing a game instantly is an impressive leap.
Of course, it’s not quite that simple. You’ll need to be logged in on the service you’re trying to access, so there’s still some friction if you’re accidentally logged out. Otherwise, you’ll be sent to the service’s sign-up page, and that could be a little frustrating.
It also doesn’t appear to work with all games on the cloud gaming services. But since this is a very new feature, it could be that it’s still being rolled out – or is only appearing on select titles currently for testing purposes.
Either way, it’s a neat addition that makes cloud gaming feel even more impressive. Just make sure you’ve got a good internet connection.
Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.
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