cross-buy Archives

BetaBeacon

March 12, 2026

Google Play Is Taking PC Seriously: More Games, Free Trials, Cross-Buy for Android

Google Play Games for PC has received major updates, allowing users to purchase select games once and play them on both their PC and Android devices. The platform plans to add more paid games in the future, with new titles like Low-Budget Repairs and Moonlight Peaks set to launch soon. Google will introduce a new tab to help users find PC-friendly titles and offer free trials for select games. The company aims to provide a seamless gaming experience across different devices and establish itself as a major player in the PC gaming market.

BetaBeacon

March 12, 2026

Google Play Games Expands to Windows, Brings Android Titles to PC With Cross-Buy Features

- A new Windows tab in the Play Store will showcase titles optimized for desktop play - Premium games such as "Moonlight Peaks," "Sledding Game," and "Potion Craft" will launch in 2026 - Cross-buy functionality allows players to purchase a game once and play it on multiple platforms - Google Play is making a strategic move to unify Android and Windows gaming and expand premium offerings

BetaBeacon

March 12, 2026

Google Play Games for PC is getting more premium titles and cross-buy with Android

Google is allowing developers to offer premium games in Google Play that include access on both Android and Windows platforms through a "Buy once, play anywhere" program.

AppWizard

November 16, 2025

‘Very Vague’ Rumour Claims Sony May Scale Back PC Ports of PS5 Games

Sony announced two new titles, Ratchet & Clank: Ranger Rumble and Horizon Steel Frontiers, which will not be available on the PS5. The company is exploring the mobile gaming space and has previously released major titles on PC. However, Windows Central reporter Jez Corden suggested that Sony might be reconsidering its approach to PC releases, possibly pulling back from them, particularly for single-player titles. Recent data indicates that off-console sales are not a priority for PlayStation, with multiformat game sales accounting for only 2% of the division's overall income. Sony is expected to continue porting select titles while focusing on live service initiatives across viable platforms.

BetaBeacon

November 13, 2025

Valve cracks the door on Steam to Android games

Valve's Steam has 35+ million concurrent users, making it the largest PC gaming storefront in terms of active engagement. Android games will run natively on Valve's new Steam Frame, which runs on an Arm-based Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 platform. Developers can reuse their existing toolchain when bringing Android games to Steam, but will need to integrate Steamworks features. Valve's broader Arm ambitions include paving the way for SteamOS to be more broadly supported across Arm devices. By embracing Android games, Valve is breaking down platform walls to benefit developers and players, potentially making it one of Steam's most important platform expansions in years.

AppWizard

February 12, 2025

‘It’s nice to have options’: Blizzard thinks Avowed’s new cross-buy feature is breaking down barriers

Avowed is set to be released on February 18, 2025, and will feature a 'cross-buy' option allowing players to play on both PC and Xbox by linking their accounts after purchasing any edition on Battle.net or Xbox. This initiative aims to enhance accessibility for gamers. Some players express skepticism about the significance of this feature, noting that it may not be revolutionary and highlighting a desire for broader compatibility across platforms. Critics also mention that the cross-buy feature leverages existing infrastructure, as Microsoft owns both Xbox and Battle.net. This follows Microsoft's previous cross-platform initiative, the Play Anywhere program, which allowed players to access games on both PC and console but faced challenges for PC gamers. The new feature also provides the option to use Battle.net, which is considered more user-friendly.