Clarification on deprecation of the Arcade Hoodie

[Yugali]

Hello Arcade Players!  

We wanted to share a quick clarification regarding the deprecation of the Arcade Hoodie. 

We have heard your feedback and truly appreciate it. Please understand that the Arcade team's decisions regarding prize counter swags are carefully considered, taking into account various factors such as available resources, logistics, past user feedback, global seasonality, and other practical considerations and important decision points. Please be assured this decision was not taken lightly. 

We always strive to offer the best possible swags, keeping all participants' preferences in mind. Having featured Arcade Hoodies for many seasons, we felt it was time to introduce something fresh, giving everyone the chance to earn something new or different that they might desire.

As we've always emphasized, while we recognize that swags can be a motivating factor showcasing your commitment to Google Cloud, they should never be the primary focus. If merchandise overshadows the pursuit of cloud-learning, it defeats the core purpose of our efforts at Google, as Arcade is a learning opportunity, not a merchandising endeavor. 

Having said that, hoodies will definitely be making a comeback in future Arcade seasons as you all have requested for the same. As you know, Arcade is a continuous learning program that runs all year. That means you'll have more opportunities to earn the swags you want in the future. So, keep that learning momentum going! We encourage you to stay focused and eager to participate in upcoming campaigns. 

We genuinely hope our participants will find motivation beyond swags, making the most of Arcade for significant career advancements, successful career transitions, securing new employment, mastering new skills, building robust careers, upskilling or reskilling in cloud, and utilizing our industry-standard curriculum for countless other opportunities.

Thank you for being such a valued part of the Arcade experience. We truly appreciate your dedication and passion towards Arcade and we will definitely…

See You in The Cloud! 

[foresto-dreamer]

This time arcade event has a different type of UI for prize counter , i hope the upcoming swags that are yet to be revealed are all balanced keeping the points and hardwork in view . 

[AYUSHMANGHOSH]

I appreciate it , well said

[rohans02]

You surely had your reasons, but dropping hoodie is truely disappointing, i humbly request the Arcade team to bring back the hoodie, its a bit demotivating to see this swag change, I agree its not supposed to be the primary focus, but its still an important part of the arcade program. So please, bring back the hoodie

[nampallyharish7]

Hello Arcade Team,

Thanks for the clarification regarding the deprecation of the Arcade Hoodie. We appreciate your efforts to introduce new swags and keep the program fresh. However, we'd like to bring up a concern regarding the current swag rewards.

It's great to hear that hoodies will make a comeback in future Arcade seasons, but we're currently facing an issue with the rewards for different point tiers. Specifically, participants who score 65 points and 85 points receive the same polo t-shirt. We believe this is unfair, as reaching 85 points requires significantly more effort and dedication compared to scoring 65 points.

We understand that swags shouldn't be the primary focus, but recognition and appreciation for participants' hard work and achievements are essential. We'd like to request that you consider introducing tiered rewards or exclusive swags for higher point tiers, such as the Legend tier.

This would not only motivate participants to strive for excellence but also provide a sense of accomplishment and recognition for their efforts. We're excited to continue participating in the Arcade program and look forward to seeing changes that reflect our feedback.

Thanks again for your time and consideration.

Best regards,

Nampally Harish

[SP25]

Its written in the Swag post that the T-shirt will be customized as per their tier
so 65 points shirts will have a different name as compared to the 85 points shirt.
Hope that clarifies your doubt
for more details check that post again carefully 

[Spy300]

I noticed a lot of replies and I hope it’s alright if I share a few thoughts and questions of my own.

If the true goal of Arcade is learning, then theoretically, just having access to the labs and the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with credits would be enough motivation. So it raises a question—why are swags offered at all?

And if swags are part of the program, I’m genuinely curious about the reasoning behind certain challenge structures that reward speed—such as giving bonus points to the first 50 participants or the fastest to complete a task. Doesn’t that shift the focus away from thoughtful learning and more toward racing to complete, which can reduce the actual value of the experience?

Additionally, I noticed the swags themselves have changed in a way that feels like a downgrade. For example, hoodies have been replaced with t-shirts, bags, or smaller items. While I understand change is part of keeping things fresh, many of us found the hoodies or bags not just motivating but also a symbol of commitment and achievement within the Arcade community.

Just some honest feedback and questions from a participant who values the platform and wants to see it grow in the right direction.

Thanks again for all the effort you put into this program.

[Spy300]

I noticed a lot of replies and I hope it’s alright if I share a few thoughts and questions of my own.

If the true goal of Arcade is learning, then theoretically, just having access to the labs and the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with credits would be enough motivation. So it raises a question—why are swags offered at all?

And if swags are part of the program, I’m genuinely curious about the reasoning behind certain challenge structures that reward speed—such as giving bonus points to the first 50 participants or the fastest to complete a task. Doesn’t that shift the focus away from thoughtful learning and more toward racing to complete, which can reduce the actual value of the experience?

Additionally, I noticed the swags themselves have changed in a way that feels like a downgrade. For example, hoodies have been replaced with t-shirts, bags, or smaller items. While I understand change is part of keeping things fresh, many of us found the hoodies and bags not just motivating but also a symbol of commitment and achievement within the Arcade community.

Just some honest feedback and questions from a participant who values the platform and wants to see it grow in the right direction.

Thanks again for all the effort you put into this program.

[Prathyush]

Hey Arcade Team,

This just doesn't seem fair. I'd say no need to change the swags from the previous cohort, because it can always be seen unfair to one cohort compared to another. There are already tiers, right? So let the people who got one tier's swags aim to get the other tiers for the next season. But this is just outright disheartening. People till the last cohort got the hoodies, now you're saying people in the next or future cohort would also get. So it really feels like those of us in this cohort are just being overlooked or left out, and that doesn't feel fair at all.

[skymaker]

hopefully, the new polo shirt does offer color options other than black... 'cause I hate black color 😁

[Akashkeote]

Dear Yugali Ma'am,

First of all, thank you for your transparency and efforts behind the Google Cloud Arcade initiative.

I would like to share my feedback as a first-time participant in the Google Cloud Arcade. Ma'am, I joined this program not just for the swags, but also to learn new skills and explore cloud technology. But to be honest, my motivation to complete the learning came from the swags — especially the hoodie, leather bag, and emoji clock.

You mentioned that swags are decided based on player preferences, but this time it feels like the community's voice was not fully considered. The hoodie was revealed earlier, which created excitement and motivation. But later it was silently replaced with a polo T-shirt — this was disappointing. If the hoodie was never meant to be a part of this season, then it should not have been revealed in the first place. This feels like an unfair and one-sided decision.

I'm a student, and I even kept my semester exams aside to focus on Google Cloud Arcade. I wanted to give it my best shot and I managed to earn 85 points in just one month approximately . I completed labs while traveling — on buses and trains — just to stay on track and motivated. It’s not easy to reach the Legend swag level, it takes real sacrifices.

Also, I noticed that Cohort 1 players seem to receive less premium swags compared to Cohort 2, which feels very unfair. We all are learners and deserve equal treatment, regardless of which cohort we belong to.

You’re absolutely right — learning should be the main focus. But in reality, swags are the spark that push students like us to consistently do labs and stay engaged. When you combine learning with rewards, it creates a powerful loop of motivation. But revealing a hoodie and then removing it without explanation honestly feels like a betrayal of our trust.

Please don’t play with the emotions of learners. One hoodie may not change someone’s career, but it can definitely fuel the motivation to build one.

All we ask for is fair treatment and support in our journey.

Sincerely,
A passionate first-time Arcade learner

[RAOKS]

85 points in just one month. can u please provide  details.

max arcade game points any one can earn in a month -12 (including work meets play )

max skill badges available in skill boost -85 . even if you complete all - 42.5 points.

Total arcade points any one can earn in a month (ideal situation) = 12 + 42.5 = 54.5 points. With introduction of 15 labs/day limit   , it's impossible.

May I know how you are able to earn 85 points in just one  month. 

@Yugali 

[bimsara]

its impossible. 

[Akashkeote]

Majority of task i completed in one month and in 2nd month i completed other tasks so its take 2 months 

[Akashkeote]

• Thanks for asking — I totally understand your curiosity.
• Yes, I earned 85 points within a month during the ongoing season. And you're absolutely right — after the 15 labs/day limit was introduced, things became harder. But I didn’t complete all the labs in one go.
• What I did was — whenever the daily limit got over, I used to wait for the 2-hour cooldown period and then continue doing more labs as soon as it reset. Even if it meant staying up late or doing labs at odd hours, I stayed consistent every single day.
• Also, I didn't only depend on Skill Badges. I participated in arcade games, quests, and special challenges, and made sure to complete all the available Skill Boosts that contributed to points. I even completed labs during travel — in the bus, train, or wherever I got time.
• Plus, the Arcade program has been running for over 2 months, but I personally completed the majority of the tasks within the first month itself through consistent effort and time management. So yes, it's tough — but not impossible if you stay fully committed.
• That’s why I felt that maintaining original swags like the hoodie was important — because it rewards those who really went the extra mile.
• Hope that clears things up

[RAOKS]

Any arcade gamer starts on 1st of a month (lets take 1st of April 25),  completed all 85 skill badges and all Arcade Games of April 25 (Basecamp, L1,L2,L3, special game-2 pointer, cert zone, even if  you are below 50 in "Work meets play"  )

By end of April 25 , Maximum points any gamer can achieve in a month - [12 (Arcade games including "work meets play) ) + 42.5 (skill badges)] = 54.5 points. 

Do not mislead community members by mentioning completed 85 points in a month. New arcade gamers will be confused.

Keeping "Semester exams" aside is not good decision. You can complete  same 85 points over period of three months (April, May, June) . Its important to maintain balance between regular studies and learning additional skills (like Google cloud ) .

Google arcade prize tiers (especially higher milestones) are designed to complete over period of five/six months . Its important to gain knowledge/skill than just completing games with scripts, this is the same message Yugali posted  two times/three times in last two seasons.

I am not new to Arcade and completed four seasonal games.  do you think others not dedicated , only you are dedicated. In first post you mentioned in one month, In second post you mentioned two months. there is no consistency in your words.

You also need to respect final decision and explanation given by Google team about swags . It involves so may factors. Its a team decision. Respect the decision and move on..

@Yugali 

[bimsara]

Yes, you’re absolutely right ma’am, learning is the main purpose of Google Cloud Arcade .

We all join to gain knowledge and improve our skills. But if learning is the only focus, then may I kindly ask ,why are swags given at all? I believe it’s to keep learners motivated along the way .

We're not doing it for the swag, but after putting in consistent effort, we naturally look forward to a small reward .it feels like a token of appreciation .

And honestly, a "Hoodie from Google" means a lot to us. Google is one of the biggest tech companies in the world .being recognized by them feels truly special 💙.

That’s the reality.

Changing the swags, especially removing the hoodie, has disappointed many dedicated learners. It’s a bit demotivating.

So I kindly request you, ma’am please consider bringing the hoodie back, at least for the Legend tier.

[kausgcl1]

hi Arcade team, @Yugali ,
We understand that, Although the Arcade event is long enough and many of us spend lot of time completing Arcade labs & the swags goal is to make the learning journey more interesting. Since Hoodie is not an option for this Arcade season, Can the t-shirts color be at least of different color. Lets say, Champion gets pink glow color t-shirt, and Legend gets White color t-shirt. Lets say Ranger level remains with black t-shirt. I remember in the past events white t-shirt used to be there. Its just that even with t-shirt also you can bring a difference motivation factor, encouraging people more to go an extra mile for their desired milestone

[Akashkeote]

I totally get your point — t-shirt color variations can bring some excitement and help distinguish levels, and I respect your suggestion. But honestly, I still feel that the hoodie should be brought back.

For many of us, including me, this was our first time participating in Google Cloud Arcade. We gave our full energy — even sacrificing exam prep, time, and comfort — just to reach those milestones. And the main motivation for many learners was earning the hoodie, especially after it was revealed earlier in the season.

Replacing it silently with a polo T-shirt killed a lot of that spark. Color variation is good, but it doesn’t match the level of motivation that the hoodie brings. It’s not just a piece of cloth — it’s a symbol of our effort, our sacrifices, and our dedication.

So I really believe, more than color changes, the Arcade team should bring back the hoodie — at least as an option for those who reached Legend level.

Hope you agree with this too. Let's keep pushing and make our voices heard respectfully 🙌

[mohit12]

When was the end of this season of arcade?

[AkhilShahni]

Please extend the end date of this program for 10 more days. @Yugali  

[Arfa_Karim]

Feedback for Upcoming Arcade Seasons

Please bring back the white hoodie in the upcoming seasons of Arcade! Just imagine how stunning it looks — a white hoodie on top and black jeans or dress pants below — such a clean and classy combination. I absolutely love it in my imagination, and I really hope to see it become a reality!

Also, based on feedback from many users, the grey color doesn't really stand out and doesn’t create the perfect match like the white does.

Let the white hoodie dream come back to life!

[nirmalgodagama]

Hi Yugali,

Thanks for the update. and i undestand all about.but, I was working toward the Champion milestone specifically hoping to get the hoodie, and only noticed the change to the polo t-shirt recently.

Since the event is still open and I started when the hoodie was shown as the reward, is there any chance I could still get the hoodie instead of the t-shirt?

because also this is my first join.dont be ruined it.plz.

Really appreciate your help!
[Nirmal Godagama]

[Bhavya_Gogia]

but we want hoodie back.As you are providing hoodie from various seasons but think for those like me who has particiapted for the first time in this cloud quest.I liked the hoodie most and also want to wear it. If possible add hoodie back only in 85 milestone. As I did lots of efforts in completing labs. SO please add hoodie for last tier only.
Thanks Google team
thanks @Yugali 

[Bhavya_Gogia]

I loved that you provide real time company based project task learnings in form of labs. I also learned very much from it. But we want hoodie back.As you are providing hoodie from various seasons but think for those like me who has particiapted for the first time in this cloud quest.I liked the hoodie most and also want to wear it. If possible add hoodie back only in 85 milestone. As I did lots of efforts and worked hard in completing labs. SO please add hoodie for last tier only.
Thanks Google team
thanks @Yugali 

thanks arcade team

[vtejasvi]

@Yugali This is very disappointing !!!. I saw the lower tier have shirts better than higher tiers.  Please bring back Hoodie.

[Satyam25]

The user is expressing disappointment with the current merchandise
distribution in a learning program, specifically the Arcade program, where
they feel lower tiers have better shirts than higher tiers. They are also
requesting the return of hoodies as swag rewards. The response acknowledges
these feelings and confirms that hoodies will be making a comeback in
future Arcade seasons as requested, according to a Google Cloud Community
forum. The response also emphasizes that while swag can be motivating, the
core purpose of Arcade is to provide a learning opportunity, not a
merchandising endeavor.