Why is today’s Google Doodle a popcorn game?

The most popular homepage on the Internet is being created today.

On September 25, Google released its latest Doodle celebrating the global popularity of popcorn. In addition to the images displayed on the homepage, web browsers can also play a popcorn game that pits players against the environment.

“You won’t believe it, but today’s interactive Doodle celebrates your favorite movie companion and classic midnight snack: popcorn!” Google wrote in an announcement. “This game makes Doodles history by allowing the highest number of players to participate in a game at the same time ever!”

You can either play alone or invite friends via a link and play together in “Squad Mode.” Players start the game as an unpopped kernel of corn and try to dodge pellets fired by enemies – including a nasty lump of butter – to survive each round.

Users can choose from three character options and then play simultaneously, using the arrow keys and space bar to move from one stage to the next.

“I’ll never forget the week we kicked off the project, brainstorming ideas and asking questions like, ‘What would a popcorn kernel’s biggest fear be?’ and ‘Should the attacking kernel have muscles?'” Brian Murray, lead engineer at Doodle, tells TODAY.com via email. “We had a fantastic time developing it and hope people have just as much fun playing it!”

Google is connecting users from all over the world so they can compete against each other, as the Doodle game is available in multiple countries, according to a map provided by the company.

“Different countries and regions now have their own flavor variations of this timeless snack: pipoca in Brazil, nori-topped popcorn in Japan, za’atar popcorn in the Middle East, maple popcorn in Canada – the list goes on,” Google wrote.

The company notes that today it is celebrating the day the largest popcorn machine ever made set a world record. Carnival Magic Theme Park in Phuket, Thailand, built the machine, which is over 25 feet tall, 11 feet wide and 9 feet deep, according to Guinness World Records. The title was awarded to them on September 26, 2020 – the game will be live for 48 hours until September 26 at 11:59 p.m.

Google has been releasing its special homepages for various reasons since 1998. The team designed its very first Doodle – a symbol of the Burning Man community and arts festival – as an out-of-office message for founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, who were attending the desert event.

Since then, Doodles have been known to celebrate a wide range of subjects, from Filipino adobo to young artists and black cartoonists to teachers and even the inventor of the Zamboni.