Google Play Games Launches App Store for Android Games on Windows
In 2022, Google launched its own app store for Android games on Windows. The Google Play Games for PC, in beta, remains available after a year since its launch. Despite several upgrades, including a lower barrier for game performance, the program still does not have a vast library of games. In November 2021, the app launched in several countries, including the US, Mexico, Canada, and Brazil. At the Google for Games Developer Summit, the company announced the platform’s expansion to new regions and popular games.
Current Availability & Expansion
Currently, the Play Games for PC is available in 13 regions. Google will expand the beta’s accessibility to Japan and most European regions in the coming weeks. Android games, such as Angry Birds 2, Garena Free Fire, Ludo King, and MapleStory M, are among the popular games available for Windows.
Improving the Game Library
To increase the game library on Play Games for PC, Google partnered with Intel to enable game developers to submit mobile-compiled games instead of PC-compiled games. However, Google will only approve mobile-compiled games that perform well on desktops. The company encourages developers to optimize and compile their games for PCs instead of mobiles.
Developer-Focused Play Games on PC
Google has released a developer-focused Play Games on PC emulator to create an easier game-debugging and direct sideloading of APKs. Developers can also tweak the graphics and hardware settings for their games to test different configurations using Android Studio. Before submitting their games for approval, developers can use Play Games’ release checklist to ensure they have met all requirements, such as high-resolution textures and assets and supporting mouse and keyboard inputs. Sign up for Google Play Games to play your favorite Android games on Windows.
