Google will begin today to launch a limited beta test of its newly released announced Google Play Games product for PC in three foreign markets: Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan. The Google Play Games PC app, announced last month during The Game Awards event, allows people to play games from Google Play on Windows PCs in addition to currently supported platforms such as mobile, tablet and ChromeOS. The new PC support will include laptops and desktops, Google said, and gamers will be able to pick up where they left off when switching from another device, like their Android phone, to their computer.
The company had previously announced the first markets to gain access to the PC app, which was expected to arrive in early 2022. However, an exact date had yet to be given.
After gaining access to the beta, testers will be able to try out popular mobile games like “Mobile Legends: Bang Bang”, “Summoners War”, “State of Survival: The Joker Collaboration” and “Three Kingdoms Tactic”, which have already reached hundreds of users. millions of players worldwide each month. In total, beta testers will have access to more than 25 games, says Google.
The new PC app allows users to browse the catalog, download and play games on a larger screen, while also enjoying mouse and keyboard input. In the meantime, users’ gameplay progress will be synced across devices and they’ll continue with their first Play Points when playing on PC, Google noted today.
The launch of the PC app follows a recent move by Microsoft to bring Android apps to Windows 11, which has included a partnership with Amazon and its own Amazon Appstore, as demand for cross-platform gameplay has increased. But the Google Play Games PC app isn’t being developed in partnership with Microsoft – it’s Google’s own app, which was built in-house and distributed. It’s also not a game streaming service. Players will download games to their computer to play.
As the beta releases, Google says it will publish more details for Android developers that will help them optimize their existing games to be compatible with Windows PCs so they can take advantage of the expanded access the PC app will have. to arrange. Google had said last month that with the launch of a Windows app, Google Play games could reach a gaming ecosystem of 2.5 billion monthly active users, across all platforms.
Timed along with this news at 4pm PT today, Google will release a developer site for those interested in joining the beta, where they can express interest and opt in to receive updates as the beta continues.