Best daily deals

Affiliate links on Android Authority may earn us a commission. Learn more.

Google Play update for Android TV makes 600+ apps easier to find

An update to the Google Play app for Android TV aims to help promote over 600 apps and games that had previously only been accessible with a specific search.
By
June 5, 2015
android tv first look (3 of 10)

Today, Google has begun rolling out a new update to its Play Store for Android TV. With it comes an overhaul of the visual layout, which has been redesigned to help promote over 600 apps and games that had previously only been accessible with a specific search.

The idea behind the update is to increase accessibility to the huge range of apps available on the Android TV Play Store, many of which had previously been hidden away unless users already knew what they were looking for. The apps and games being promoted on the homepage aren’t necessarily new, but should now be brought to the attention of many more Android TV users. Previously, Android TV customers only saw a handful of promoted apps on the Google Play launch screen.

To further facilitate better accessibility to the extended library, Android TV apps are now arranged into 20 new categories: Everyday apps, sports central, for music lovers, stay informed, TV time, movies at home, top app and games, multiplayer games, TV remote games, exercise your mind games, stop the enemies games, choose an adventure games, aim and shoot games, no sweat workout games, role playing games, arcade fun games, get ready, fight games, great platformers games, racing and flying games, fun for everyone games.

android tv-play-store

As well as competition from other smartTV platforms, Google’s own popular Chromecast alternative is said to be detracting from specialized development for the Android TV platform. Google’s latest reshuffling of the way apps are presented to consumers seems like an attempt to help sell developers on the ecosystem.

Furthermore, earlier in the week NVIDIA declared that dedicated applications from popular broadcasters could be heading to Android TV in the near future. These include HBO Go, USA Today and the Twitch game streaming service, although no specific dates were given. It seems that Google is still very keen on promoting and expanding Android TV.

The latest update for Android TV’s Play Store is already up and running, so you should notice an update download at some point today. Check out the new Google Play and let us know what you think of the changes.