Google Play Games on PC is making significant strides, expanding its library in two key ways: bringing more Android games to the platform and actively recruiting native PC games. Soon, every Android game will automatically be available on PC unless a developer chooses to opt out—a major shift from the previous opt-in system that limited the selection.
This push aims to blur the lines between mobile and desktop gaming. Currently boasting over 50 native PC games, Google plans to open its platform to all PC developers later this year. To ensure quality, Google is introducing playability badges: "optimized" for games meeting high standards, "playable" for those meeting minimum requirements, and "untested" games which will require direct searches. This system mirrors Steam's compatibility badges for the Steam Deck. The potential impact is significant; if successful, Google could pose a considerable challenge to Steam's dominance.
Conversely, Google Play Games is also expanding its Android offerings with popular PC titles. Dredge is already available, with TABS Mobile and Disco Elysium slated for release later this year, all fully optimized for touchscreens.
The vision is a seamless cross-platform experience: buy a game once and play it on both your phone and PC. For more details on Google's gaming plans, check out their official blog post. Also, be sure to check out our news on New Star GP, an arcade racing game from the creators of New Star Soccer.
