Is Google preparing Google Games?

    Recently, there are more and more rumors about the work of Google in areas that are not directly related to the search business. So, Michael Arrington writes , citing his sources, that Google has almost secretly invested between $ 100 and $ 200 million in Zynga.

    Zynga is known as a developer of browser games that work both independently and on social networks such as Facebook and MySpace. The company has already raised about half a billion dollars in venture capital investments, including $ 150 million from Softbank Capital last month and $ 180 million late last year from Digital Sky Technologies, Tiger Global, Institutional Venture Partners, and Andreessen Horowitz.

    According to sources in Arrington, the investment was made by Google itself, and not its subsidiary Google Ventures, which indicates the strategic importance of the transaction. Zynga is likely to become an essential element of the new Google Games service, which, according to various sources, will be launched at the end of this year.

    The same sources say that Zynga's revenues for the first half of 2010 amounted to $ 350 million, half of which is operating profit. In 2011, Zynga plans on at least $ 1 billion in revenue. These figures are significantly higher than previous forecasts.

    Both Google and Zynga declined to comment. But it’s interesting that among the open vacancies Google has appeared one called “ Product Management Leader, Games - Mountain View ”.

    Also popular now: