Google Play Games Brings Android Games to PC

Google is taking significant steps to enhance Google Play Games on PC by expanding its catalog to include more Android games and introducing native PC games to the platform. Starting soon, all Android games will be accessible on PC by default, unless developers opt out. Previously, developers had to opt in, limiting the available 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 platform to all PC developers later this year. To help users identify which games perform well on PC, Google is introducing playability badges. Games labeled as 'optimized' meet Google's high-quality standards for an excellent gaming experience. Those marked 'playable' meet the minimum requirements, while 'untested' games will not appear in regular browsing and must be searched for directly.

This system is reminiscent of Steam's compatibility badges for the Steam Deck. If Google successfully brings most or 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, with TABS Mobile and Disco Elysium set to launch later this year. These PC-to-mobile ports are fully optimized for touchscreens.

If Google can perfect this cross-platform integration, gamers could purchase a game once and enjoy it seamlessly on both their phone and PC. For more details on Google's gaming plans, check out their official blog post.

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