Google announced Tuesday it’s introducing a variety of modifications to how the Play Store appears and performs in an attempt to better customize the store for its users and boost interaction. Among the updated capabilities is a redesigned Apps tab, a refreshed Play Games experience, a new tab centered on your preferences, and additional features that utilize Gemini AI.
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Building on Previous Additions
The upgrade expands on earlier improvements that aim to make the Play Store more of a destination, such as a tab showing where you can stream your favorite programs or Collections, which groups your favorite apps and games into areas like shop, watch, and listen, Google Play Games VP and General Manager Aurash Mahbood explained to TechCrunch during a press briefing.
Google Play’s Global Reach
For more than 4 billion users, Google Play remains a crucial entryway to discovering apps, games, books, movies, TV, and timely cultural material, and our goal is to help all users interact with the apps and content that drive their needs and passions, he said in a press briefing ahead of today’s debut.
AI-Powered Functionality Arrives
As expected, the upgrade is bringing AI-powered capability to the Play Store. With a feature named Guided Search, users can discover the app or game they want to test by typing in a goal or idea instead of the app name. For example, a user might type find a home to be directed to real estate apps.
Curated Spaces in Apps Tab
The Play Store’s Apps tab is also being improved to include new curated spaces dedicated to seasonal subjects and those customized to a user’s interests. These may pull in content from several apps, Google says. In the US, content associated with the WNBA will be highlighted here, for instance.
Expanding to Other Regions
This growth follows the launch of curated spaces in India and Japan, which concentrated on regional interests like cricket and comics, respectively. Korean users will likewise gain a curated space devoted to video content, offering a mix of movies, TV series, and short-form video, including drama and serialized narratives. Google observes that short-form content is the most widely consumed media type on smartphones.
Introducing the New You Tab
A new You want to motivate TAB users to associate more often with the Play Store, as it offers a centralized place for features such as tracking subscriptions, game points, suggestions, statistics, and updates. In particular, the tab will make recommendations related to your interests, such as movies or shows, podcasts, e-books, or audiobooks, and start it, listen or look at what you read or watch.
Gamers’ Profiles and Avatars
Gamers will also view their new gamer profile in this tab, which arranges stats and achievements across games and devices. These profiles can now be tailored with a Gen AI avatar. New features for gamers are also arriving following the release of the new Games app that launched with Android competitor Apple’s iOS 26 update.
Centralizing Gaming Experiences
Now, the Games tab will consolidate stat and achievement tracking, rewards, and community into one location. Play Games Leagues will allow users to challenge their friends and compete for Play Points rewards. This launches with the first league dedicated to the popular title Subway Surfers, which will run from October 10 through October 23.
The AI-Enabled Play Games Sidekick
However, the most compelling upgrade is the inclusion of the AI-enabled Play Games Sidekick. This is a new in-game overlay you can access to receive real-time gaming support from Gemini Live. The concept is that you can ask Gemini for help when stuck in a game and need direction or tips. The feature builds on the work Google displayed with DeepMind in December, where the company revealed how it was creating AI agents across fields, including gaming.
Staying in the Game
Instead of having to exit the game to search for tutorials or walkthroughs, we’re using the latest Gemini audio-to-audio model to grasp your gaming situation, giving you quick answers and encouragement, said Mahbood. The Sidekick will also compile and arrange other relevant gaming data in one place, so you can stay inside the game. Initially, the feature will be supported in games from EA and Netmarble, including Star Wars Galaxy of Heroes, FC Mobile, and Solo Leveling Arise.
Enhanced Game Detail Pages
Also new are the improved Game Detail Pages, which will display information about the title, including ongoing events, developer updates, and offers. Next month, gamers will also be able to ask questions and share answers on this page to provide or get help from fellow players.
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