Google tests the option to launch games in the cloud from the search results

Google is testing a new feature in its browser that aims to remove almost any barrier that might separate a player from cloud gaming. At the moment we are facing a test that the company has not said a word about, but some people like Bryant Chappel, presenter of The Nerf Report, has discovered that if you search for the name of a game in Google, the Play button appears on the right side that allows you to start it directly from the cloud.

Google’s interest in facilitating cloud gaming is easily explained by being the company responsible for Stadia, but not only its gaming service appears in the search results. streaming. Google’s new feature also has support for other cloud services like Xbox Cloud Gaming, Amazon Luna, and GeForce Now. As you can see in the video that you have below, in the case of Stadia the start is almost instantaneous, from the Google search to the game in a single click and in a few seconds.

In case you want to play in the cloud from the browser using a service other than Stadia, there is still minimal friction. For example, in the case of Xbox CloudGaming Y amazon moon you have to make a second click. At most it takes two seconds longer compared to Stadia. Also note that if the user is not logged into the respective cloud service, the Play button in Google search will take them directly to the page where they can enter their credentials.

Another thing to keep in mind is that not all games support this feature. In the examples provided by Bryant Chappel we can see that titles such as Control Ultimate Edition, Halo Infinite, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice and Fortnite have the option to launch from the browser, but Ubisoft’s FarCry 6, which is available on GeForce Now, does not appear with the Play button. Possibly including or not this function in Google depends on the editor or developer and at the moment the French company is not up to the job.

Screenshots of Sean Hollister from The Verge.

It is not clear when or if Google will end up rolling out this feature to all search engine users. At the moment it is a feature in the testing phase that only some users can see.