It’s official: Google Play Games adds in-game chat, achievements, cloud saves, and more

By Adam Rosenberg May 15, 2013

This story is part of our complete Google I/O coverage

Google’s answer to Apple’s Game Center for iOS is called Google Play Games and it features an assortment of services similar to what you’d expect to find in a present-day platform-specific social network for gamers.

Google Play Games will offer, with features like in-game chat, system notifications, achievements, leaderboards, matchmaking, Google+ integration, and cloud-synced saves combining into the sort of centralized gaming network that Android still lacks. These features will not have a standalone app, however, like Apple’s Game Center. Google Play Games will integrate directly into games, and be virtually invisible to users.

Many of the supported features in Google Play Games were uncovered last month following a look at the source code for the MyGlass app, which connects Android devices with the Google Glass eyewear, but this amounts to a more concrete rundown.

UPDATE by Jeffrey Van Camp 5-15-2013: These features were just confirmed by Google during its Google I/O press conference. We’ll have more details soon.

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Previously, Adam worked in the games press as a freelance writer and critic for a range of outlets, including Digital Trends…

Mobile

Google Play Games is coming to Windows PCs in 2022

Image of Google Play game running on a Windows PC.

In one of the biggest cross-platform moves we've seen in a while, Google has announced that it's bringing Google Play Games to Windows PCs starting next year.

The news was announced at The Game Awards 2021 by host Geoff Keighley, who also shared a brief teaser video. While there's not a great deal of additional information available yet, the promise is that you'll be able to play your favorite mobile games on your Windows PC, so it looks like Google won't be holding back on putting its best titles forward for cross-platform play.

Mobile

Pokémon Unite tops the list of Google Play’s Best Games of 2021

Pokemon Unite characters.

In its usual end-of-year retrospective, Google has announced the Best of Play winners for 2021, highlighting key apps and games that Google feels made the most positive contributions to the world of mobile over the past year.
For the first time, Google has also expanded these awards beyond the Android smartphone platform this year to include apps and games on tablets, Wear OS, and Google TV. The awards recognize innovation in app and game development, and in making its selections, Google looks for apps that challenge the norms by “introducing unique gameplay features and giving users never-before-seen experiences.”

Pokémon Unite took the Best Game of the Year award for 2021, beating out top picks from previous years such as Genshin Impact (2020), Call of Duty: Mobile (2019), and PUBG Mobile (2018). Google cited the dynamic gameplay and cross-platform experience of Pokémon Unite as its key merits, while also giving honorable mentions to independent developers that it says are “creating imaginative and personal gaming experiences.” The runners-up this year were notably both indie developers: George Batchelor for Bird Alone and Annapurna Interactive for Donut County.
Masaaki Hoshino, Producer for Pokémon Unite, thanked Google for the recognition, adding, “All of us who worked on the game are very honored to receive such an award,” particularly as this is Pokémon’s first strategic team battle game. “We tried to distill the best parts of the MOBA genre to create a new kind of game,” Hoshino added, while also candidly admitting that he was “unsure if it would be well received by players around the world.” The Pokémon Unite producer says he’s thrilled to have the affirmation that his team is on the right track and plans to continue improving the game and making it even more exciting.
Google Play also acknowledged winners in five more specific categories, including Best Competitive, Best Game Changers, Best Indies, Best Pick up & Play, and, for the first time, Best for Tablets.
Once again, Google also ran its Users’ Choice awards to give Play Store users a chance to weigh in by voting on their most popular picks. This year, the vote for Best Game went to Garena Free Fire MAX. Previous Users’ Choice award winners include SpongeBob: Krusty Cook-Off (2020), Call of Duty: Mobile (2019), and PUBG Mobile (2018). Although the 2018 and 2019 Users’ Choice matched Google’s own pick for Game of the Year, this is now the second year in which the user vote has gone in a different direction.
As for apps, Google noted that apps focused on personal growth continued to be in high demand throughout 2021, and its top picks reflected that.

Gaming

Lenovo’s leaked Legion Play cloud gaming console is a flawed idea

A leaked image of the Lenovo Legion Play.

Lenovo is making its own video game system, according to a recent leak. Images of a handheld called the Lenovo Legion Play appeared in the source code of the manufacturer's Mobile World Congress 2021 website.

The system, discovered by Lilputing, is described as "the first Android cloud gaming console." It looks a bit like the Nintendo Switch, with a standard-layout ABXY attached to a 7-inch FHD display. The website source code mentions a few other specs too, like HDR 10, dual speakers, and a 700mAh battery. The console would supposedly play cloud games, allowing players to stream their PC games to the device.