Google acquires Green Throttle Gaming's assets and co-founders (update)

Google has acquired the parts and labor of the developers of an Android-based virtual gaming console and gaming controllers, Green Throttle Gaming, including its two co-founders, Pando Daily reports.

According to Pando Daily, a Google spokesperson confirmed that a deal had been made but couldn't share its terms. The agreement would see co-founder Charles Huang retain Green Throttle business rights, while Green Throttle staff and co-founders join Google.

Green Throttle's other co-founders are chief technical officer Karl Townsend, lead engineer on the original and second generation Palm Pilot, and president and chief operating officer Matt Crowley, formerly of Nokia and Palm.

Huang, one of the founders of Guitar Hero co-developer RedOctane, announced in November 2012 that Green Throttle Games was developing an Android-based virtual gaming console. The virtual console allowed users to connect smartphones and tablets to TVs in order to play mobile games with Green Throttle controllers.

The company secured $6 million in venture-capital backing a month later to help Green Throttle "develop internal games, support external development, and advance software services." The company's other products include an app called Green Throttle Arena that served as a hub to find Green Throttle-compatible games developed by the company and other studios. The app was removed from Google Play and the Amazon App Store on Nov. 8, 2013 and all backend support ceased.

Reports surfaced last June that Google was developing its own Android-powered gaming console, which it was planning to design and market itself. A month later, reports said Google privately showed off a set-top box prototype featuring a camera and motion sensor during last year's Consumer Electronics Show.

We have reached out to Google for further information and will update this article accordingly.

Update: A Google spokesperson confirmed with Polygon that a deal had been made with Green Throttle but couldn't share its terms. A few green Throttle team members, including Crowley and Townsend, have joined Google under the agreement and Huang will continue running Green Throttle. Google couldn't divulge what the co-founders will be working on nor comment on Charles' business or product plans.