Google Android Gaming Service for PC is now available in beta version

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Google's Android gaming service for PC is now in beta testing, indicating that a full release is on the way.

Google is getting ready to release its Android gaming platform on PC, with beta testing already started in a few selected areas. The Google Play Games service is essentially an Android port of Google's dedicated gaming client, with the addition of a full game translation layer for Windows.

The Google Play Games for PC limited beta is only available in Asian areas. Users from Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea can apply for access, however, it's unclear whether Google has an unlimited number of users in mind, or if the firm is limiting the number of people who can use the Android PC gaming client's beta version.

Google Play Games for PC is designed to allow users of Microsoft's Windows 10 and Windows 11 operating systems to play native Android and Chrome OS games on their PCs. In theory, this should allow users to move between their Android and PC devices for gaming on the fly, with achievements and purchases being linked across both platforms.

Google Play Games

At this time, anyone can "show some interest" in the application's beta, but it's unclear if and when Google plans to expand the beta testing phase to additional countries. There's very little formal information from Google on how the service will work in practice. However, now that some people have had a chance to try it out, early impressions should start flowing in.

It's worth noting that the Google Play Games PC edition will not be a streaming app. Instead, this will be a native translation layer enabling Android games to run on Windows PCs, and it's thought to be Google's answer to Microsoft's launch of its own native Android app store for Windows 11. It's difficult to say which of the two services will win because none is now operational.

In the word, the idea of Android games on PC sounds amazing, but there's no way of knowing how native Android games will fare against full-fledged desktop gaming experiences. In 2022, at the very least, the interaction of the PC and Android ecosystems should be interesting. In some ways, Google's Stadia gaming service is already addressing AAA titles, and it could potentially team up with Play Games to offer a competitive gaming experience on both PC and Android.

Google Play Games for PC is now under beta testing, and the service is expected to launch in 2022.

Source: Developer Android