Google is making significant strides with Google Play Games on PC, expanding its ecosystem to include more Android games on the platform. Additionally, Google is intensifying its efforts to integrate native PC games into Google Play Games.
Soon, every Android game will be accessible on PC by default, unless the developer opts out. Previously, 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. Google plans to open this up to all PC developers later this year. To help users distinguish which games perform well on PC, Google is introducing playability badges.
Games labeled as 'optimized' meet Google's stringent quality standards for an excellent gaming experience. A 'playable' badge indicates that the game meets the minimum requirements, while 'untested' games will not appear in standard browsing and must be searched for directly.
This approach is reminiscent of Steam's compatibility badges for the Steam Deck. If Google successfully brings all or most of its Android games to PC, it could pose a significant challenge to Steam.
Conversely, Google Play Games is also bringing popular PC games to Android devices. Dredge is already available, and TABS Mobile and Disco Elysium are set to follow later this year. These PC-to-mobile ports are fully optimized for touchscreens.
If Google can seamlessly integrate this cross-platform functionality, it could revolutionize gaming by allowing users to purchase a game once and play it on both their phone and PC without additional complications. For more details on Google's gaming plans, check out their official blog post.
Don't forget to read our coverage on New Star GP, an arcade racing game from the creators of New Star Soccer.
