In 2022, Google Play Games made its debut on Windows, offering a variety of select Android games for PC users. Originally unveiled in 2021, Google’s gaming service entered beta testing in India last year, showcasing optimized Android games for the desktop. Recently, Google revealed plans to broaden its offerings by including native PC games on the platform, in addition to its existing selection of Android titles.
During the 2024 Google for Games Developer Summit held last week, the company announced that it will introduce more PC games from prominent developers to its Google Play Games app on Windows. The company stated, “Google Play Games will expand support for native PC games. This means you’ll be able to discover and play a larger selection of games designed specifically for PC directly through Google Play.”
The enhanced support for native PC games is set to roll out this year, as confirmed by Google officially. Currently, Google Play Games offers over 3,000 titles across more than 140 countries, with internal data suggesting that developers experience a 35 percent increase in playtime through the service.
While it remains uncertain whether Google is planning to include high-profile triple-A PC games in its catalog, the announcement nevertheless paves the way for fresh PC titles on its platform. At present, the most significant players in the PC gaming storefront arena are Steam and Epic Games Store. It appears improbable that Google aims to compete directly with these established platforms, which have a longstanding presence in various sectors of game development, publishing, and retail.
The current lineup of Google Play Games on PC features a handful of native PC titles, such as Lineage2M, Odin: Valhalla Rising, Genshin Impact, and Dragonheir: Silent Gods. The service promises players more opportunities to engage with top games across mobile and PC platforms.
In addition, Google has encouraged developers to complete a Google form indicating their interest in making their native PC titles accessible through the service.
Last year, the beta version of Google Play Games for PC launched in India, providing support for native PC games on Windows. Users who log in with their Google accounts benefit from seamless synchronization across devices. The platform is available in both English and Hindi for Indian users.