Google Maps might soon add 'Feeling Lucky' exploratory mode to Street View

Google Maps might be preparing a new ‘Feeling Lucky’ mode in Street View that lets you explore beautiful and remote places. While combing through code in the latest Google Maps v11.131.0100 beta, I spotted some new strings that indicate the aforementioned feature might be in the works.

APK Peek: The information contained in our “APK Peek” articles is based on decompiled code from APKs. Decompiling code provides glimpses into potential features, in the form of strings. These features, however, are not guaranteed to be implemented by Google. In some instances, we might attempt to enable these features to offer a detailed look. Please note that our assumptions about a set of strings might not always be perfect.

While Google hasn’t officially announced or detailed this capability yet, the app’s code references things like a “Start Exploring” button to initiate a “Feeling Adventurous” mode. There are also strings for “Next” and “Previous” chips, suggesting users may be able to navigate through a sequence of random scenic Street View locations picked by Google.

One of the new strings describes the experience as allowing users to “Journey with Street View to beautiful and remote places.” This indicates the Feeling Lucky mode will curate and highlight amazing vistas, landscapes, and far-off destinations viewable through Google’s extensive catalog of 360-degree Street View imagery.

Rather than searching for a specific place, this exploratory mode seems designed to surprise Google Maps users with a random assortment of stunning Street View locations. It could open up a more adventurous and virtual tourism experience within the app. For those interested, here are the new strings for reference:

<string name="STREET_VIEW_FEELING_LUCKY_ENTRYPOINT_CHIP">Start Exploring</string>
<string name="STREET_VIEW_FEELING_LUCKY_ENTRYPOINT_DESCRIPTION"> Journey with Street View to beautiful and remote places </string>
<string name="STREET_VIEW_FEELING_LUCKY_ENTRYPOINT_TITLE">Feeling Adventurous</string>
<string name="STREET_VIEW_FEELING_LUCKY_NEXT_CHIP">Next</string>
<string name="STREET_VIEW_FEELING_LUCKY_PREVIOUS_CHIP">Previous</string>

For those unaware, Google Earth also has a similar ‘I’m feeling lucky’ button that lets you explore places randomly. So it’s likely that the feature will function in the same way, just that you’ll be in Street View mode.

However, it’s important to note that while suggestive code strings have appeared, Google has not confirmed plans to actually launch this Feeling Lucky capability. Google often experiment with potential new features that never get officially released. So we’ll just have to wait and see if development on this potential new feature progresses.

If Google does decide to move forward with this Feeling Lucky mode for Street View exploration, it will likely be enabled through a future update to the Google Maps app on Android and iOS over the coming weeks or months.