Major product updates from the Google for Games Developer Summit 2024

Posted by Aurash Mahbod – General Manager, Games on Google Play

We're on a mission to make Google Play the best gaming destination, and your great games make this possible. That's why we invest in tools that help you achieve more by increasing user engagement, accelerating business growth, and maximizing your reach.

Today we shared more details about these investments at the Google for Games Developer Summit. look at the Keynote session on requestor keep reading for important product updates from the top.

More ways to increase user engagement

We know that identity, progression and achievement are important to gamers. Of Play game services (PGS), gamers can switch between devices and get back to gameplay instantly, on any device connected to PGS¹. Based on your feedback, we've made it easier for you to integrate PGS and provide more relevant experiences for your users:

• No database changes are required to integrate PGS, and you no longer need to save the association between in-game accounts and PGS profiles.

• You can start automatically syncing your users' credentials through PGS, including users without a profile, so their progress is available to sync when they move to a new device².

• This year we're introducing more ways for you to create engaging in-game content based on performance level or game progress. For example, you can create Quests in your game to challenge players and unlock rewards with Play Points.

To create these engaging experiences in your game, integrate PGS today – and stay tuned for more opportunities soon.

We've also been working to customize our shopping experience to better engage users who have already installed your game. We are rolling out starting today improvements to store listings to display your game updates, new content and promotions more prominently directly in Play³. On your store listing page, you'll find relevant content to keep your audience engaged with your game, including your latest YouTube videos, AI-generated FAQs, and more.

These improvements are currently limited to English-speaking users and to select titles that are part of the early access program. If you're interested in testing the improved store listing for your game and helping shape this feature with your feedback, you can express your interest here.

Extensive programs to accelerate growth

We're also expanding our most popular programs to help you accelerate your business growth.

• With more than 220 million members, Google Play Points is one of the largest loyalty programs in the world. Play Points are available in more than 35 markets, reaching the vast majority of ready-to-buy, active buyers. They help you retain users and reach new ones. This year we are happy to announce that we will be launch of Google Play Points in Brazil.

• Play Points now offers the opportunity to set limited quantities for exclusive in-game offers, building excitement and increasing participation around limited deals. These offers have been very effective in reaching paying users and driving repeat purchases.

• Google Play Pass, which has grown subscriptions by more than 120% in the past year, is expanding to include in-game offers from popular games. We're launching in-game offers in 21 markets, including Japan, and Launching Play Pass later this year in Korea.

New ways to maximize reach

Finally, to help you reach more users with your games, we're making it easier to scale and grow your multi-platform games across mobile devices, tablets, Chromebooks, and Windows PCs⁵.

• We also make user acquisition campaigns easier and more useful for PC games. You can now use the Play Install Referrer API for Google Play Games to achieve closed-loop marketing on PC, by passing campaign or click information to your game, allowing you to optimize marketing campaigns across ad networks, social and other channels.

For more news from the Google for Games Developer Summit, visit g.co/gamedevsummit. You can also connect with us at GDC in San Francisco. We are hosting a full day of sessions on March 19th and a week of hands-on product experience in the Moscone Center, West Hall, Level 2 Lobby from March 18th to March 22nd.

As always, thanks for working with us to bring great games to players everywhere.

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¹Subject to game availability and PC compatibility.

²This feature requires PGS SDK V2 integration. Developers can store PGS credentials for users, but only retrieve them after the user sets up a profile.

³Feature availability is limited to English-speaking users and select titles included in the Early Access Program.

⁴Google internal data. New buyer refers to users who made a purchase during this pilot experiment after not making a purchase in the last 50 days.

⁵Windows is a trademark of the Microsoft group of companies.

⁶Google internal data.