Zynga hired for Google Games launch?

The company behind the world’s biggest Facebook games will be the cornerstone of Google Games when it launches later this year, claims TechCrunch.

The technology website claims Google has invested between $100 million and $200 million in Zynga to help launch its social games service – which the search giant hopes will pull consumers away from Facebook.

Google hired its first games boss, Mark DeLoura, in April this year.

Zynga is fast establishing itself as the games industry’s biggest company, and is behind some of the world’s most played titles – including FarmVille and Mafia Wars.