In a significant move for the gaming industry, Google has announced an expansion of its Google Play Games on PC platform, now incorporating support for native PC games alongside its existing mobile offerings. Aurash Mahbod, the vice president and general manager of Google Play, emphasized the initiative’s goal: “Google Play Games on PC was launched to help mobile games reach more players on PC. Today, we’re expanding this support to native PC games, enabling more developers to connect with our massive player base on mobile.”
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Previously, Google Play Games on PC served as a bridge for mobile game publishers, allowing them to adapt their titles for Windows PCs through a high-performance emulator optimized for keyboard and mouse gameplay. With this latest expansion, developers can now utilize a Play Games PC SDK designed specifically for native PC games. This toolkit includes features such as in-app purchase integration, enhanced security measures, simplified game packaging, and an enticing earnback bonus of up to 15 percent.
Developers eager to bring their native PC games to the Google Play platform are encouraged to reach out directly to Google for more information. Additionally, Google has introduced enhancements for mobile game developers, notably making all mobile games available on PC by default. Developers retain the option to opt out at any time, and there will be no playability badges indicating compatibility on PC. Instead, a “playable” badge signifies that a game meets the essential requirements for optimal performance on PC, while an “optimized” badge indicates adherence to Google’s quality standards for an exceptional gaming experience.
Further updates to the Play Games on PC platform include support for AMD desktop PCs and laptops, enhancing accessibility for a broader range of gamers. For PC users, new features such as controls customization, a game sidebar for quick adjustments, and an improved Play Points experience have been introduced, streamlining the process of tracking points and earning boosters.
