Google Maps Rolls Out Fast-Travel for Premium Users

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif — Google has confirmed that the ability to fast-travel between locations in certain states will soon be arriving on the devices of Google One Subscribers.

“We’re so incredibly excited about Google Fast Travel, and we can’t wait to share it with our more dedicated users,” says Stephen Knight, Director of Research and Development at Google Maps. “Starting August 1, all of our Google One subscribers will be able to access the fast-travel feature from within the Google Maps app, like with any other mode of transportation. However, users should note that in order to make space for the Fast Travel option, we did have to do away with walking directions altogether.”

One Google One subscriber and Google Fast Travel beta tester Jasper Evans posted to social media to go over their praise, as well as criticism, of the new feature.

“The service is great for the most part. It’s completely free with the subscription, which is awesome,” said Evans. “The Fast Travel isn’t always instant, but Google was sure to include some fun loading animations for users to rest in while waiting to arrive. Plus there’s the mobs. Every time you Fast Travel, there’s a 35% chance that a horde of enemies will spawn nearby. At first it was kind of a fun challenge, but now it’s more obnoxious than anything.”

When asked what lies in store for the future of Google Fast Travel, Project Lead Miranda Davis was eager to share. 

“There are a lot of updates we’re really hoping to implement once the feature has the chance to take off,” explains Davis, “And we’ve already received a lot of feedback from our users! One thing people really want to see, it seems, is the ability to Fast Travel while engaged in combat. While this is certainly something we’d like to explore eventually, it’s probably a long way off. For now, we really want to focus on adding helpful tips to display over loading animations. Oh and we’re going to expand mob spawning. We want our more hardcore users to have the option to Fast Travel into the middle of nowhere, like a state park or something, and just go ballistic on waves and waves of enemies, nothing but mountain air between you and say 300 zombies or so. That’s what Google Maps envisions for the future.”

At press time, Google is reportedly planning on when they will make the feature obsolete.