You tab Archives

AppWizard

January 21, 2026

The death and reincarnation of game discoverability

Guy Ulmer leads platform partnerships at Plarium, part of the Modern Times Group, which develops and publishes games like Raid: Shadow Legends and Stormfall: Saga of Survival. The gaming industry is experiencing a shift in discoverability, with nearly one-third of developers identifying it as their primary challenge by 2026. Players increasingly discover new titles through platforms like YouTube (64%), TikTok (38%), and Instagram (36%), surpassing traditional storefront promotions. Developers must engage players through social media and creator ecosystems rather than relying solely on major storefront placements. Storefront interactions require strategic optimization, as platforms like Google Play and Apple are expected to prioritize games that align with new features. Developers must treat every game as a service, engaging in continuous updates and sales events. Successful developers will design games with marketing in mind, utilizing strategies like incentivized referrals, stream integration, and generative AI for content creation. The focus has shifted from maximizing visibility at launch to ongoing optimization throughout a game's lifecycle, making discoverability a fundamental design principle.

BetaBeacon

September 28, 2025

Play Games Sidekick Explained: Google Brings Live Tips Inside Android Games with Gemini AI

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.

BetaBeacon

September 26, 2025

Google Play’s New Program Aims to Change Mobile Gaming Forever

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.

BetaBeacon

September 25, 2025

Google’s New Gaming Upgrade Wants You to Stop Losing

Gemini Live is a feature designed to assist gamers in real time by offering tips, guidance, and answers to in-game questions without leaving the game.

BetaBeacon

September 23, 2025

New ways Google Play is built entirely around you

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.