Google's Gaming Plans May Involve Zynga

By  |  Monday, July 12, 2010 at 8:08 am

We’ve seen growing evidence of Google’s plans to take gaming seriously, but the latest rumor from TechCrunch is a whopper: Google has reportedly invested between $100 million and $200 million in Zynga, maker of popular Facebook games Farmville and Mafia Wars.

Later this year, Google will launch Google Games, anchored by Zynga’s addictive brand of social gaming, TechCrunch’s multiple unnamed sources said. The investment by Google — not Google Ventures — is reportedly part of a larger strategic partnership between the two companies.

This wouldn’t be an exclusive arrangement. Zynga already has a deal with Yahoo that will see Farmville and other games scattered across Yahoo’s network later this year, and Farmville landed on MSN Games in February.

The benefit for Zynga — aside from truckloads of cash — would be another potential escape from Facebook. The two companies quarreled in May over Facebook Credits, a virtual currency system of which Facebook takes a 30 percent cut, but made amends by agreeing to work together for five years. I still think Zynga’s survival depends on whether it can tap into Facebook’s existing social network, but other heavy hitters like Google and Yahoo will a least provide new opportunities.

For Google, a strong gaming platform featuring Zynga would fit nicely into several other Google developments involving Flash, on which Zynga’s games are built. First, there’s Flash for Android 2.2, which is already available for the Nexus One and coming to other phones later this year. Google TV will also feature Flash as a way to watch video and play games. Finally there’s the recent integration of Flash into Chrome, which keeps the platform secure and up to date. It’s certainly possible for a Google gaming service to exist across PCs, mobile phones and televisions.

I’m no Farmville addict, but I think good games are essential to all those platforms. I hope Google’s gaming plans are as ambitious as this rumor suggests.

 
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10 Comments For This Post

  1. technologiez Says:
    July 26th, 2010 at 8:49 am

    When are they going to put out more applications so people other than those with the iphone can use the features on farmville/facebook?

    I wouldn't mind paying a fee…it will weed out those not interested in it and never play their farm again after their first visit. I am sure that this has clogged up a lot of space on the servers.

  2. Jawad Says:
    December 2nd, 2010 at 7:21 am

    If you can pay a fee than it doesnt mean that every one can pay a fee , so if they are doing something for other users than i dont think that there is anything wrong in it.

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    December 19th, 2011 at 9:52 pm

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  4. auto repair answers Says:
    December 20th, 2011 at 7:33 am

    Zynga is the greatest game ever and Google is the greatest company nowadays(mb apple can make some competition with them, but only when Jobs were alive). I really like, that Google invests money in Zynga!

  5. nuratrim reviews Says:
    December 24th, 2011 at 2:20 pm

    I’m no Farmville addict, but I think good games are essential to all those platforms. I hope Google’s gaming plans are as ambitious as this rumor suggests.

  6. florist penang Says:
    February 2nd, 2012 at 7:43 am

    great combination between google and zynga.

  7. penang wedding Says:
    February 2nd, 2012 at 7:46 am

    looking foward to see more games from zynga.

  8. florist in penang Says:
    February 2nd, 2012 at 7:48 am

    more games from zynga will be coming out this year.

  9. budget hotel penang Says:
    February 2nd, 2012 at 7:50 am

    i like to play farmville but slow down already due to work load.

  10. florist kuala lumpur Says:
    February 2nd, 2012 at 7:52 am

    many new online gaming companies are formed each year but they can't beat zynga.

2 Trackbacks For This Post

  1. More Talk of Google’s Social Gaming Plan Says:
    July 28th, 2010 at 10:11 am

    […] invested in Farmville maker Zynga — between $100 million and $200 million, according to an earlier rumor from TechCrunch — but the company is also in discussions with Playdom and Playfish, owned by Disney and […]

  2. Faltering Farmville is a Sign of Social Gaming Woes Says:
    November 23rd, 2010 at 4:21 pm

    […] and new games. Farmville is now available for iPhone and Zynga Poker is coming to Android. Zynga will likely play a big part in a social network from Google, and last week, the company announced a big new game, CityVille. […]