Google announced today that it is bringing Squid Game: Unleashed, formerly exclusive to Netflix, to Chromebooks as well as large-screen Android devices. The 32-player multiplayer adaptation of the popular show, developed by Netflix Games studio Boss Fight Games, is set to launch on Chromebooks in the coming weeks. According to Google, it’ll launch with updated controls, keyboard and mouse support and graphics that take advantage of the Chromebook display.
In an interview with GamesBeat, Marisol Ryu, director of product management for ChromeOS, said, “Our Games Optimization team worked directly with Netflix to ensure that Squid Game: Unleashed met the ChromeOS quality bar. Our app compatibility team started by testing the original Android version and developed a report that served as a rubric for the Netflix team. This included things like improved scrolling functionality, adding keyboard and mouse controls, and removing mobile specific interface elements to allow players to see and appreciate more of the game visuals. Finally, the team ran a series of compatibility tests as well to ensure solid framerate performance on a variety of hardware.”
Google made the announcement alongside the reveal of the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14, which Google calls “the most advanced Chromebook yet.” Among its other features, it has exclusive AI features such as smart grouping and image editing within the Gallery app.
Chromebooks for gamers
Ryu says this goes hand-in-hand with its gaming capabilities: “The range of affordable hardware in the portfolio has brought in a diverse group of global users that have asked for more from their devices… Only a few years ago, if you said you could edit videos, play AAA games, and use built-in AI features on a Chromebook, I bet most people wouldn’t believe you. These users are excited to get more out of their core laptop experience through an increasingly wide variety of apps.”
Squid Game: Unleashed, which launched late last year, became the top game in 24 countries on the iOS App Store within weeks. It joins a growing library of games available on Chromebooks, which supports cloud gaming services such as Amazon Luna and GeForce Now, as well as Android games via the Play Store.
Ryu added, “Gaming has become a key focus for Chromebooks over the years, and our team has seen millions of new users regularly play games on their devices. One point that many don’t realize is that thousands of the world’s most popular games are playable — between much of the large Android game catalog being compatible, cloud gaming services like NVIDIA GeForce NOW and Xbox Cloud Gaming bringing AAA games at incredible visual fidelity, and more.”
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