Google has announced significant updates to Google Play Games on PC, introducing new features and expanding its catalog of Android games available for desktop users. This initiative follows the platform’s beta launch in 2022.
Google Play Games on PC expands catalog
As part of the updates, Google is implementing a new “playability badge” system to categorize mobile games on PC based on their performance. An “optimized” badge indicates a game meets all quality standards for a strong gaming experience, while a “playable” badge signifies minimum requirements for satisfactory play on a PC. Games carrying an “untested” badge will only appear in search results if specifically sought out.
Currently, Google Play Games on PC features over 50 native PC titles, and Google plans to open its native PC program to all native developers later this year, allowing them to make their games accessible on the platform.
The catalog for Google Play Games on PC is also expanding to include all previously unavailable games, with developers needing to opt out if they choose not to make their titles available on Windows. Google has improved custom controls, enabling keyboard and gamepad mapping for games designed for touchscreen use, though the effectiveness of these controls may vary significantly per title.
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Google is also increasing accessibility for users by expanding its game offerings on AMD laptops and desktops, and plans to partner with PC OEMs to integrate Google Play Games directly into the start menu of new devices. Additionally, Google will introduce multi-account and multi-instance support this month, allowing users to play multiple games simultaneously with different accounts.
Google Play Games on PC will transition from beta status to full availability later this year, as the company focuses on enhancing tools for developers to bring premium titles to Android while also facilitating the migration of mobile games to Windows. As part of this effort, Google aims to introduce every Android game to the Windows platform.
In conjunction with these changes, Google will support developers in distributing PC games through a new native SDK, which will allow titles to be made available on the Play Store for both PC and mobile platforms. The program’s doors are open to all PC game developers starting now.
Google is also enhancing Android gaming capabilities, adopting Vulkan as the default graphics API to create a modern rendering stack. This update aims to simplify support for advanced features like ray tracing and multithreading, thereby alleviating barriers for developers porting games to Android.
Furthermore, Google is launching a pilot program to equip developers with tools for creating PC-first experiences on Android, with three titles confirmed for the program. One such title, the fishing adventure Dredge, has already launched on PC and consoles in 2023 and is available on the Play Store at a price of $25. Additional titles include the mobile version of TABS and the RPG Disco Elysium, expected later this year.
Featured image credit: Google
