Google Play is undergoing a significant transformation, shifting from a conventional app store to a personalized entertainment and gaming hub. This redesign aims to enhance user experience by curating content that resonates with individual preferences. The new interface is designed to serve up relevant entertainment options, making it easier for users to discover what they truly enjoy.
What you need to know
- Google’s new redesign turns the Play Store from a plain app shop into a tailored entertainment and gaming hub that serves up what you actually care about.
- The Apps tab now displays entertainment corners, seasonal spotlights, and curated content like trending shows, webcomics, and mobile dramas (rolling out globally after tests in India and Japan).
- With Guided Search, you can type your goal — like “find a home” or “deck-building games” — and Play’s AI organizes the best options for you.
- A single gamer profile now tracks stats and achievements across devices, and Gen AI Avatars let you show off your personality.
The revamped Play Store in Korea features a dedicated entertainment corner, rich with mobile-friendly dramas, movies, and TV shows. Meanwhile, U.S. users can easily access trending shows, webcomics, and bite-sized dramas directly from the Apps tab. Seasonal spotlights will appear in an immersive format tailored to individual tastes, enhancing the discovery experience.
For those who find themselves frustrated with keyword searches, the new Guided Search feature allows users to simply type in their desires—be it “find a home” or “deck-building games”—and the Play Store’s AI will curate the best options available.
Gaming gets unified
In addition to the overall redesign, gaming on Google Play has received a substantial upgrade. The Google Play Games platform now serves as a comprehensive destination for gamers. Unified gamer profiles will track statistics and achievements across devices, while Gen AI Avatars provide a unique way to express individual gaming styles.
The Play Points rewards system has been integrated across both mobile and PC platforms, enhancing the overall gaming experience. Google is also set to launch Play Games Leagues on October 10, featuring Subway Surfers, where players can compete for rewards and bragging rights until October 23.
Moreover, Google recently announced new prizes and items for Play Points rewards in the UK, further enriching the user experience. The innovative Sidekick overlay, powered by Gemini Live, offers in-game tips without requiring players to exit their current gameplay for a walkthrough. DeepMind has been training Sidekick to comprehend game context, and select players will gain early access in the coming months.
PC gamers are not overlooked either, as Google Play Games on PC has officially launched out of beta, boasting a catalog of over 200,000 titles, including popular games like Mecha Break and Subnautica, with Deep Rock Galactic Survivor on the horizon.
Finally, the introduction of the new You tab brings together subscriptions, rewards, audiobook selections, and ongoing content into a single, cohesive feed. This rollout begins this week in select Play Points markets, with plans for expansion to additional countries starting October 1.
