Chrome Fastball
Open the game- Brand
- Google Chrome
- Year
- 2010
- Objective
- Product launch
- Industry
- Tech
- Mechanic
- Racing
- Platform
- Web
- Agency
- Google Creative Lab
- With
- Feels Like
- With
- BBH New York
Objective
Google Chrome launched a major browser update with integrated Adobe Flash support and aimed to demonstrate the browser's performance advantages. The campaign targeted users to showcase Chrome's speed through an engaging interactive experience and drive awareness of the browser's new capabilities.
Solution
Chrome Fastball was a Flash-based interactive game built directly into YouTube—the first of its kind. Players controlled a chrome ball through an elaborate obstacle course featuring Rube Goldberg-style challenges and stunts. The game integrated real Google services (Maps, Translate, Search), Twitter, and Last.fm, with interactions that happened at high speed to showcase Chrome's performance. The game combined video playback with interactive gameplay mechanics, challenging users to complete the course as quickly as possible.
Results
The campaign crashed Google's servers on launch day due to overwhelming interest from a single social media post. The browser subsequently became the world's second most popular web browser, overtaking Safari. Participation exceeded one million users. The campaign won top honors at the Webby Awards (Game or Application category), multiple awards at Cannes Lions 2011 (Titanium, Gold Cyber, Bronze Integrated, Silver Cyber), and a D&AD Yellow Pencil.
