Google is planning to address a major gaming issue within the Play Store.

Google has introduced the "Google Play Games Level Up" program to improve the quality of games available on the Play Store. The initiative aims to reward developers who create enhanced gaming experiences by providing promotional tools and increased visibility.

To qualify for the program, developers must adhere to specific user experience guidelines focused on creating modern games that value players' time. These guidelines include:

Player Continuity: Games should allow players to seamlessly resume their progress on any device through cloud saves and easy sign-in processes. This enables users to switch between phones, tablets, and PCs without losing progress.

Rewarding Player Journeys: Developers are encouraged to design meaningful achievements that reward players for significant milestones and hidden discoveries, making the game more engaging.

Cross-Device Gameplay: Games should support controllers, keyboards, and mice, and be available on Google Play Games for PC, giving players the flexibility to play on their preferred devices.

The Google Play Store has often been perceived as having a lower standard than Apple's App Store, which is known for stricter guidelines and the Apple Arcade service. The Level Up program is Google's attempt to address this issue by incentivizing developers, rather than enforcing strict rules. This approach aims to encourage developers to create better gaming experiences, making it easier for players to find high-quality games across different devices.

The initiative is a welcome step forward for the Play Store, as it rewards developers for implementing features like cloud saves and controller support, which should be standard. However, the first major deadline for compliance is not until July 2026. While this provides developers ample time to adapt, the full effects of the program will not be seen for some time. Despite the long timeline, the program is expected to improve the overall quality of Android gaming and highlight hidden gems.

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