As popular as Android has become, there’s no denying Google hasn’t been shy to mimic certain features of iOS over the years. Now an unnamed source is telling Business Insider Google’s latest venture is building a social gaming network for Android to model Game Center on iOS.
Since iOS 4.1 in 2010, Game Center has been a way for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad users to keep track of game scores and compete with friends in certain multiplayer games. There’s never been a native solution for doing this on Android. Thus far, developers have had to rely on third-party gaming networks like OpenFeint, but it’s not enough to be a driving force in gaming growth on Android and Google is aware.
“They are starting to really understand all of the needs and wants to make a game really successful,” the source said. “As recently as even a year ago, that really wasn’t part of their institutional DNA, but I think they’re getting there.”
One advantage Google has over Apple in creating a game center for Android is its own social network: Google+. There would be little to no effort necessary on the user’s end to start playing optimized games other than logging into the game network with their Google ID. Then Google could pull information — which may including gaming interests — directly from Google+ to create basic profiles. It’s also allegedly planning to include an award system for players with the highest achievements.
Naturally, a spokesperson for Google had nothing to say on the matter. If it’s made significant progress so far, maybe we’ll hear the official word at Google I/O in June.