Google Play Games Now Brings Android Games to PC

Google is making significant strides with Google Play Games on PC, expanding its reach to bring more Android games to the platform. But it's not just about Android games; Google is also intensifying its efforts to introduce native PC games to Google Play Games.

Soon, every Android game will be accessible on PC by default, unless developers opt out. Previously, developers had to opt in, which limited the available catalog significantly.

Pushing to Blur the Lines Between Mobile and Desktop Gaming

Currently, over 50 native PC games are available on Google Play Games. Later this year, Google plans to open the platform to all PC developers, allowing them to bring their games to the service. To help users identify which games perform well on PC, Google is introducing playability badges.

A game labeled as ‘optimized’ meets all of Google’s quality standards for an exceptional experience. A ‘playable’ badge indicates that it meets the minimum requirements, while ‘untested’ games will not appear in regular browsing and will require direct searches.

This approach is reminiscent of Steam’s compatibility badges for the Steam Deck. If Google successfully brings most of its Android games to PC, it could pose a significant challenge to Steam.

On the other hand, Google Play Games is also bringing popular PC games to Android devices. Dredge is already available, while TABS Mobile and Disco Elysium are set to join later this year. These PC-to-mobile ports will be fully optimized for touchscreens.

If Google can seamlessly integrate this cross-platform setup, it would be a game-changer, allowing players to purchase a game once and enjoy it on both their phone and PC without additional complications. For more details on Google's gaming plans, be sure to check out their official blog post.

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