Google Play Games Now Brings Android Games to PC

Google is making significant strides with Google Play Games on PC, expanding its reach by bringing more Android games to the platform. Not only is Google focusing on Android games, but it's also intensifying efforts to include native PC games on Google Play Games.

Starting soon, all Android games will be available on PC by default unless developers opt out. This is a shift from the previous requirement where developers had to opt in, which limited the available game catalog.

Pushing to Blur the Lines Between Mobile and Desktop Gaming

Currently, over 50 native PC games are accessible on Google Play Games. Later this year, Google aims to allow all PC developers to bring their games to the platform. To help users identify games that perform well on PC, Google is introducing playability badges.

• An 'optimized' badge indicates that a game meets Google’s high-quality standards for an excellent gaming experience.
• A 'playable' badge signifies that the game meets the minimum performance requirements.
• Games labeled 'untested' won't appear in regular browsing and will require direct searches to find.

These badges are 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.

Conversely, Google Play Games is also introducing well-known PC games to Android devices. 'Dredge' is already available, with 'TABS Mobile' and 'Disco Elysium' set to follow later this year. These PC-to-mobile ports will be fully optimized for touchscreens.

If Google can seamlessly integrate this cross-platform system, the potential to purchase a game once and play it on both your phone and PC without additional hassle is exciting. For more details on Google's gaming plans, be sure to check out their official blog post.

Don't miss our coverage on 'New Star GP,' an arcade racing game from the creators of 'New Star Soccer.'