Google introduces Play Games Sidekick, a Gemini-powered in-game overlay for Android games that offers conversational help, quick access to screenshots, screen recording, player stats, and community features.
Google Play Games Level Up program offers new promotional opportunities and improved discovery tools for games enrolled in the program. One of the notable benefits is the You tab on the Play Store, which allows developers to showcase their latest events, updates, and offers to re-engage players. The program also offers enhanced discovery opportunities in the store, including prominent features, Play Points boosters, and quests to drive more players to their game. For gamers, the program promises a much-improved gaming experience based on player continuity, rewarding journeys, and cross-device gameplay. The guidelines emphasize cloud save, seamless sign-in, high-quality achievements, and support for multiple input types. The first milestone date for developers to meet the user experience guidelines is set for July 2026.
The You tab on Google Play is a new feature that provides curated content including rewards, subscriptions, recommendations, stats, and updates. It also offers a gamer profile for gaming enthusiasts. The tab combines relevant content across various interests and apps, allowing users to discover new content and easily pick up where they left off on novels or podcasts. The integrated gaming platform and You tab will be rolling out this week in select Play Points markets, with more countries being added on October 1.