Next week, Google intends to reveal plans for its foray into the gaming industry at GDC – and while little is known about their intentions at the moment, delicious new details seem to be emerging daily.
According to a recent Chromium commit spotted in the wild by coder Owen Williams, Google is apparently testing the compatibility of its web browser with Nintendo's Switch controllers, including Joy-Cons and the Pro Controller – both in USB and Bluetooth modes.
Taking a look at the bug report, we've got a couple of additional details:
The Nintendo Switch Pro Controller can be paired over Bluetooth and used as a standard gamepad on desktop OSes. It is currently enumerated in Chrome but is unusable due to incorrect mappings for the D-pad and analog axes. Chrome should add a mapping for this popular device.
The Switch Pro controller is usable when connected by USB or Bluetooth, but defaults to a Bluetooth-only mode. This CL adds methods for recognizing Switch Pro controllers, sending the vendor-specific packets used for USB initialization and haptics, and reading controller data reports.
Chrome Unboxed, a site dedicated to Chrome OS news and updates, has also analysed the report and determined the following:
"From the looks of the commit and the included bug report, the [Google] team is working on getting the details ironed out to not only have the [Switch] controller noticed by the OS, but to allow Chrome to handle the actual implementation."
It's clear that these tests are focused on the possible gaming service Google may be ready to announce – including Chrome's ability to recognise and make use of controllers from current mainstream gaming devices. Considering the questionable designs we've seen circulating in recent days from Google's controller patent, the ability to use your own controller of preference with the rumoured gaming service would be welcome news.
Our assumption is that Google – as a newcomer in this well-established industry – intends to assimilate as much as possible within the existing fanbases, while also potentially taking on open spaces such as the wild west of online emulators.
One might wonder if all of these new developments pose any real threat to Nintendo, or established gaming companies in general (read more in our Talking Point here). However, a precedent has been set in the past for a relationship between Nintendo and Google – most notably, when they partnered on motion-based AR experiences for the Wii U using Google Street View technology. As we've said before: keep your friends close.
It is more than likely that all of these speculations will be fully addressed in Google's keynote at GDC next week in San Francisco. So until then, take every bit of information with a heap of salt – and keep rewatching that teaser trailer to try to figure out what the heck Google has been up to.
What do you think the Big G has in store for us? Will they take over the world, or be crushed by the likes of Nintendo and other gaming giants? Let us know your thoughts below.
[source chromium-review.googlesource.com]
Comments 20
google doesn't know how to make consoles, whatever they announce is going to be a failure. they don't even stand a chance against nintendo, microsoft and sony. it's better they stay and concentrate on their mobile stuff
Hey, nice. If this a Google streaming service turns out to be any good, I could use my pro controller with my Chromebook. Sounds good to me.
I can play Mario Crossover and Mario 65 with a Controller!!!!
Adding compatibilities is always a plus.
@andrew124 to be fair, Microsoft made XBOX 30 years after it was founded, so i don't see why this can't be successful (not guaranteed, tho)
I honestly do not have a problem with any of this whole google shabang as long as it doesn't replace Nintendo. Partnership with each other? Sounds good to me.
Google switch, sounds good
The use of existing controllers for use on other consoles, and especially pc, is nothing new. Google might try to be friendly with its competition, for now. Then, when they have a foothold of some sort, the "I'm your friend" is now, "I'm your enemy, and going to crush you".
Perhaps Google is planning to put Chrome on the Switch.
Google doesn't get hardware. The Pixelbook, Pixel C, the Pixel Buds, etc. Google gets by by having a good search engine, an intrusive ad network, a terrible by cheap phone platform that gets extended to their partners tablets, and an interesting computer OS that's designed with the idea that a consumption device shouldn't be able to expand to do something great.
Overall they're an awful company with a lot of smart people actively working to make the world a worse place.
People have been using the Pro Controller for PC gaming for a while, but this is the first I've heard of using Joy-Cons. Interesting.
@SMW people were using joycons paired via Bluetooth with PCs from day 1.
We simply don't know enough about what Google plans to do with their service or device to really guess.
But Google tends to act like the Disney of the internet and just muscle everything through with copious amounts of cold hard cash. My biggest concern is that they will buy good game development studios and pull them away from their previous projects and partnerships. Much like Microsoft did with Rare, or Disney did with Star Wars and Lucasarts.
This and still no Netflix?
@MushHill_Act1-1 most people think google doesn't know how to make a good console though. I mean, I don't think they'll be able to compete with nintendo because google doesn't make games for a game console, they're only part of the mobile sector, NOT part of gaming consoles. for me a streaming device is not that useful as a console. they can compete with Apple if they want but they can't against gaming companies.
I've actually always been a fan of Google stuff. Especially the Google Drive suite, it's just so comfortable to use!
I'm stoked to see what they can do if they try to enter the gaming market. If they choose to partner with Nintendo, then I'm stoked even more.
I'm no expert but how would you Sync the Joy Cons up to another device?
I know with the Switch you simply slide them onto the Side to connect but there's no USB port to connect with, or a Pairing button like you would get on a Wii Remote for example
@Marios-love-child you can connect them on bluetooth by holding the sync button! I do it all the time with android apps on my chromebook.
@Marios-love-child Also, Nintendo does sell something that you can use to connect them to a device, known as the Joy-Con Charging Grip
@ALinkttPresent
You live & learn
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