An update has been released for the official Android emulator that makes testing multiplayer games and other applications easier, and allows for easier interconnection of multiple virtual devices.

Android Emulator Update Simplifies Multi-Device Interactions

The latest update to the Android Emulator in Android Studio aims to streamline the process of connecting virtual devices. Previously, users had to manually configure port forwarding and other settings to run multiple instances simultaneously and interconnect them. However, with the release of version 36.5.10 Stable on April 2, 2026, multiple instances can now coexist on the same virtual Wi-Fi network and interconnect using standard Wi-Fi-based protocols.

Google is highlighting the benefits of this update, emphasizing that it will make testing features like multiplayer games, file sharing, and integration with various devices such as XR devices, AI glasses, cars, and smartwatches much simpler. The documentation for interconnecting emulator instances is readily available for developers looking to explore this new functionality.

• Android Developers Blog: Test Multi-Device Interactions with the Android Emulator
• Emulator Release Notes: Android Studio | Android Developers
• Documentation: Interconnecting emulator instances | Android Studio | Android Developers