Google Expands Gaming Options for Android Auto and Android Automotive OS
If you’ve ever found yourself sitting in your car with nothing to do, Google is ramping up options for your entertainment. In addition to onboarding video streaming services on Android Auto and Android Automotive, Google is also making in-car gaming a bigger deal this year.
The company has now officially moved the games category for Android Auto and Android Automotive OS out of beta and into general availability. That means games are no longer just an early-access experiment, and developers can now freely publish compatible titles through Google Play’s open testing and production tracks.
Of course, Android Auto users can only play these games when the car is parked. Google is positioning the feature for times when you’re already in your car but not actually driving. That could mean waiting for your car to charge or sitting in a parking lot while waiting for someone.
Google also requires these in-car games to stop their audio when you start driving, and that audio can’t simply be resumed while the car is in motion. The games are designed to run directly on your car’s display, and don’t require you to pull out your phone. Car screens support touch controls, while some games can also support a connected game controller.
For Android Auto, though, Google requires devices running Android 15 and newer to support in-car games. Individual games also need to support the car form factor and pass Google’s requirements before appearing on Google Play for cars.
Google is also asking developers to ensure their games can restore their previous state when relaunched. So if you leave a game and return to it later, it should ideally pick up where you left off rather than starting from scratch. Moreover, the company is encouraging developers to make their games work across different car displays, which makes sense given how varied car screens can be.
