Google is making significant strides with Google Play Games on PC, aiming to bridge the gap between mobile and desktop gaming. One of the major initiatives is the expansion of Android games available on PC. Soon, every Android game will be accessible on PC by default, unless developers choose to opt out. This marks a shift from the previous requirement where developers had to opt in, resulting in a limited selection of games.
Pushing to Blur the Lines Between Mobile and Desktop Gaming
Currently, over 50 native PC games are available on Google Play Games, and Google plans to open the platform to all PC developers later this year. To help users identify which games run well on PC, Google is introducing playability badges. Games labeled as ‘optimized’ meet Google’s stringent quality standards for an excellent gaming experience. Those marked as ‘playable’ meet the minimum requirements, whereas ‘untested’ games won’t appear in normal browsing and must be searched for directly. This system is reminiscent of Steam’s compatibility badges for the Steam Deck. Should Google succeed in bringing most, if not all, of its Android games to PC, it could pose a significant challenge to Steam.
Conversely, Google Play Games is also bringing well-known PC games to Android devices. Dredge is already available, and TABS Mobile and Disco Elysium are set to join the lineup later this year. These PC-to-mobile ports are fully optimized for touchscreen use.
If Google manages to perfect this cross-platform ecosystem, the prospect of purchasing a game once and enjoying it seamlessly on both your phone and PC is exciting. For more details on Google's gaming plans, you can read their official blog post. Additionally, stay updated with our coverage on New Star GP, an arcade racing game from the creators of New Star Soccer.
