Google - Dino Runner
Project Overview
At Google I/O, we were challenged to bring a familiar digital icon to life in an unforgettable, physical way. Google wanted to showcase its ARCore Cloud Anchor technology—the system that enables multiple users to share the same augmented environment in real time—through an activation that would be instantly engaging, universally understood, and technically impressive.
We reimagined the beloved Chrome “Dino” easter egg as a multiplayer, mixed-reality experience called DinoRunner. What began as a simple 8-bit browser game became a shared AR race where players could watch their dinosaurs sprint across real-world spaces, leaping over holographic cacti and battling for leaderboard dominance. DinoRunner was designed to be playful, social, and technologically revealing—a living demonstration of how augmented reality could connect people through shared physical experiences.
Objective
Our objective was to transform a single-player nostalgia hit into a shared, multi-user experience that would make Google’s Cloud Anchors technology tangible. We wanted attendees to feel—not just see—the innovation behind synchronized AR, where multiple users experience the same virtual world in perfect alignment.
The challenge lay in balancing complexity and accessibility. The game needed to run flawlessly in a crowded live environment, require zero onboarding, and instantly communicate the potential of Google’s AR ecosystem. We set out to design an activation that was both a proof of concept and a joy to play—one that bridged advanced tech with simple, universal fun.
Scope of Work
Experience Concept & Design
We redesigned the Chrome Dino game from the ground up as a spatial, multiplayer experience. The original side-scroller became a 3D AR world where players controlled dinosaurs racing through a shared virtual landscape mapped over the real environment.
AR Engineering & Cloud Anchor Integration
We developed a custom real-time AR system using ARCore Cloud Anchors, enabling players to see and interact with the same dinosaurs, terrain, and obstacles simultaneously. This required fine-tuned spatial synchronization, network optimization, and dynamic asset loading for seamless gameplay.
3D Art, Animation & Visual Design
Our team created all character models, environmental assets, and motion behaviors for the AR experience. Every element—from the Dino’s bounce to the explosion of obstacles—was crafted to feel tactile and true to the original charm while showcasing the richness of augmented interaction.
Sound Design & Interaction Feedback
We designed an audio system that heightened immersion and competition. From the rhythmic thump of footsteps to playful crash effects, sound became a vital storytelling layer that anchored the digital world to the physical space.
Live Event Deployment & Performance Optimization
We handled on-site integration, ensuring the experience ran flawlessly across devices and sessions. Performance tuning and responsive UX design allowed hundreds of players to engage without latency or technical barriers.
Outcome
DinoRunner became one of the most talked-about activations at Google I/O, drawing long queues and constant crowd engagement throughout the event. Players raced side by side, shared clips on social media, and spread word of the experience far beyond the conference floor.
The activation successfully transformed Google’s Cloud Anchors technology from an abstract feature into a tangible, joyful encounter. DinoRunner received recognition from multiple award platforms, including FWA and Webby Honors, and was celebrated by industry media for its creative fusion of nostalgia and innovation.
By turning a simple offline browser game into a multiplayer AR spectacle, we proved that emerging technology doesn’t need to feel futuristic or distant—it can be immediate, human, and fun. DinoRunner demonstrated how we can take the tools of tomorrow and use them to connect people today, one holographic race at a time.
