Google’s New Instant Games App Offers Free Trial

While Google doesn’t make games on its own, it does own Android, which is among the largest developer communities. The tech giant shared news at the recent Game Developers Conference that will alert the attention of both developers and players alike. Google’s Instant App Technology, which was introduced to Android in 2017, can now also be used in game development.

Android users already have access to a number of games available in the Play Store, including such titles as Mighty Battles, and Clash Royale. Now it appears as though they will soon have more to choose from.

Faster and more accessible

Google Play product manager Jonathan Karmel explains that the concept for making games competitive with Instant App technology was suggested as a way to see get users straight into the game. That’s especially the case for a social game such as Clash Royale, where players can send friends a link to “join their clan”, which results in the user being forced to jump through hoops just to get the app up and running. Instant Games resolves that issue by allowing the user to click on a “try now” link when hovering over the game’s Google Play Store profile, and quickly takes them straight into the game’s native experience. While the “try now” version doesn’t allow the user to play the full game, it does offer multiple opportunities to download it.

Users have had their expectations raised when it comes to games and accessibility, through enjoying such online experiences as Pokemon Go and Minecraft. They certainly don’t want to have to work hard for their them, when they’re supposed to be about fun, rather than filling in forms. Those same users can read more here to see how companies such as Microgaming even provide bonuses for playing such games as Jungle Jim El Dorado and Immortal Romance slot, which are easily accessible from various websites. While the new Google app is a good start, the team has their work cut out for them to fall in line with current user expectations.

More curated content

The Play Games app has been moving in this direction for some time now. While it still acts as a home to access games, Google’s Benjamin Frenkel described Play Games as having more of an editorial voice and an emphasis on curated content. It’s not entirely different to Apple’s redesign of its App Store last year, when games were given their very own dedicated tab featuring additional in-depth content and curated categories designed to aid the user when sifting through the colossal number of options available.

“google play logo design” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by The Logo Smith

While there’s only a small selection of instant games available during the launch period, Android users are free to try both the games and the Play Games app itself. How quickly Google will release more instant games remains to be seen. While they’re only accessible in the Play Store as of now, Google says that the format can be used all over the internet, so the links to games may soon become far more visible.

Tom Parillo

I am interested in all things technology, especially automation, robotics and tech that helps change how society will live in the future.