Google is taking significant steps to expand Google Play Games on PC by introducing more Android games to the platform and enhancing its offerings with native PC games. Soon, all Android games will be accessible on PC by default, with developers having the option to opt out. This shift from an opt-in to an opt-out system is set to significantly broaden the game catalog.
Pushing to Blur the Lines Between Mobile and Desktop Gaming
Currently, over 50 native PC games are available on Google Play Games. Google aims to open this platform to all PC developers later this year. To help users distinguish games that perform well on PC, Google is introducing playability badges. Games labeled as 'optimized' meet Google's high-quality standards, ensuring a superior gaming experience. Those marked 'playable' meet the minimum requirements, while 'untested' games will not appear in regular searches and require direct searches to find.
This system bears similarity to Steam’s compatibility badges for the Steam Deck. If Google successfully brings a majority 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, with TABS Mobile and Disco Elysium set to join later this year. These ports are fully optimized for touchscreens.
If Google can seamlessly integrate this cross-platform setup, it would allow gamers to purchase a game once and play it across both their phone and PC effortlessly. For more details on Google's gaming plans, check out their official blog post.
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