It's an interesting thought. Google has the money to basically sell a console as powerful as the PS4 for nothing. If google really wanted to, they could step in, and beat everyone. They would have to start forming and buying studios before they tried a console, and I would hope they would not base it off of the Android marketplace, but rather a dedicated marketplace. They would also have to support physical copies of games unlike other android based consoles I know.

But a powerful, well priced console running a modified version of android with Google's money behind it. Yeah, that's a pretty damn exciting prospect.

Honestly, Google making a proper game console excites me, but I bet they won't.

You're crazy. Google will put out a far better product for about the same price.

Imagine taking your phone and touching the top of the device to auto sync, then using the phone to start some game. Then put it down and pick up a bluetooth sync'd dual analog controller to play the game.

Phone still works as phone as the game is actually running on device, phone sync just told device what account and then what content to play.

Imagine a 2nd person comes in and syncs their phone because you both want to play the latest FIFA on the Play store, but its his copy, well now system is sync'd to both your accounts, he starts game and picks up 2nd controller. (keep in mind Google lets you proclaim up to 10 devices per your android account and a single device can be shared infinitely)

OR later you're wanting some music for a party. You, your wife, a few friends all sync their phones by just tapping to device (NFC and wifidirect). You all individually from your phones create a dynamic playlist from anywhere in your house.

Basically, Google's device will likely be the perfect android media streaming device that is truly unique to you as its base around your temporary sync to the device from your phone or tablet. It automatically can access your Google Play media of any type and stream to TV (or neflix, browser, hulu, youtube, books, and so on).

Google the "Google Q" device. It almost did all of this (sans games) but was made in USA and way too expensive as well as no GoogleTV experience. Just music and videos for $350. But all the sync'ing and sharing was there.

Now add in the full GoogleTV experience (pretty much all the features XBone is touting), real games controller support and likely large increase on high quality console games, all this instant sync/sharing features loosely defined above and for a price of $100 to $150. Controllers like $30 (because Google doesn't add massive margins on anything... see Nexus phones launch and $300 when others are at $600 and better quality too).

This can be huge if Google doesn't fuck it up.

I imagine they're just going to build a better Ouya.

What, over people trashing Ouya? Or people giving Google a pass for datamining/always online sort of stuff when they trashed the One for the same thing?

It's going to be a whole lot bigger than just one piece of hardware, it's going to be a matter of standarizing for the OS. Samsung will likely even begin making hardware under this standardization.

So just because they have money they will dominate an industry they've no experience in!?

Just like MS?

They might do ok, but getting your panties in a twist before they've done anything at all is not very realistic.

PLUS:

Kasz216:
"I imagine they're just going to build a better Ouya"

Is probably exactly what would happen if they do enter the console market. And that's hardly a 'threat' now is it.

are they going to have a unprecedented partnership with rovio?

I somehow would detest having a corporation like Google with its fingers in every pie honestly. If such a console DOES come out, I think I wouldn't support it on sheer principle if nothing else.
Plus, games on phones sell to a hundred million users...console games on average move about 1-2 million copies. I don't honestly expect Google to be that interested in a market that has already 3 main players and a few smaller ones and which would probably not yield that high of an investment return for them.

Microsoft's true enemy finally shows it's head. This and Apple's offerings are what Microsoft was preparing for with the Xbox One. MS was preparing for the future of gaming in mind. They wanted to shut out Google and Apple before they even showed up. Now with their original policies compromised, due to "the gamers" will they still be strong enough? This will be an interesting battle. I don't think MS really feared Sony and Nintendo. They weren't looking to eliminate them from gaming. Their true fear is Google and Apple. Google is like the Borg.

They wear feared enough to send employees to Nintendo's Best Buy Locations. Nice, isn't it.