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Google Play Games is coming to Windows PCs in 2022
- In 2022, you’ll be able to play Android games on Windows PCs directly from Google.
- Google is bringing Google Play Games to Windows as a standalone application.
- Google says it will bring “the best of Google Play Games,” so it’s possible it would only include select titles.
At the 2021 iteration of The Game Awards, Google had a surprising announcement. During a segment on mobile gaming, Google Play Games Product Director Greg Hartnell dropped the big news.
Starting sometime in 2022, you’ll be able to play Android games on Windows PCs directly from Google. This will be possible because Google is bringing the Play Games platform to Windows through a standalone application.
Google has told us that this is not the result of a partnership with Microsoft like we saw with Amazon bringing its Appstore to Windows 11. Instead, this is an independent development Google has been privately working on.
As one would expect, Google isn’t dishing out too many details. However, from what it announced on stage and what it’s told us, we can make a few assumptions.
Android games on Windows PCs
As mentioned, Google has confirmed this is a standalone application. In other words, you’ll need to download and install the app from Google just as you would one of its other Windows apps.
Since it’s the Google Play Games platform, you’ll need to log in with your Google account, just as you would do on Android. A Google spokesperson told us that “players will be able to pick up right where they left off from their pocket to their tablet, Chromebook, and on desktop via this new Google Play Games PC application.” That should mean your saves and other information will transfer from platform to platform.
Titles should be limited, at least at first, but your saves and other info should carry over from platform to platform.
Interestingly, the spokesperson said, “this product will bring the best of the Android and Google Play Games ecosystem to Windows PCs.” Reading between the lines there, we expect a limited selection of Android games on Windows PCs, at least at first. If Google intended to bring everything over, it would have said “all” instead of “the best.”
Are you excited about Android games coming to Windows?
There are still tons of questions, though. Is this going to be available on Windows 10 or just Windows 11? What kind of hardware will you need? Is this just a fancy Android emulator or will these games run natively? What games will be available? How will mobile-specific titles, such as Pokémon Go, work on Windows? Hopefully, we’ll get answers to these questions soon!
In the meantime, hit our poll above to let us know what you think about this!