Google is making significant strides with Google Play Games on PC, aiming to bridge the gap between mobile and desktop gaming experiences. A major change coming soon is that all Android games will be accessible on PC by default, unless developers choose to opt out. Previously, developers had to opt in, which limited the available game catalog.

Pushing to Blur the Lines Between Mobile and Desktop Gaming

Currently, over 50 native PC games are available on Google Play Games. Google plans to open this platform to all PC developers later this year. To help users distinguish between games that run well on PC, Google is introducing playability badges. Games labeled as 'optimized' meet Google’s high standards for a seamless gaming experience. A 'playable' badge indicates that the game meets the minimum requirements, while 'untested' games will not appear in regular browsing and can only be found through direct searches.

This approach is reminiscent of Steam's compatibility badges for the Steam Deck. If Google successfully brings most of its Android games to PC, it could pose a significant challenge to Steam's dominance.

Conversely, Google Play Games is also bringing popular PC games to Android devices. 'Dredge' is already available, with 'TABS Mobile' and 'Disco Elysium' set to follow later this year. These PC-to-mobile ports are fully optimized for touchscreen use.

If Google can perfect this cross-platform setup, it could revolutionize gaming by allowing players to purchase a game once and enjoy it seamlessly on both their phone and PC. For more details on Google's gaming plans, be sure to check out their official blog post.

Also, don't miss our coverage on 'New Star GP', an exciting arcade racing game from the creators of 'New Star Soccer'.