Google Play Games Will Bring Android Games to Windows in 2022

Last Updated on December 10, 2021 by Nachiket Mhatre

It’s a great time to be a PC gamer. After the influx of Xbox and PlayStation exclusives, now Android games are coming to Windows next year. Google plans to launch a Google Play Games app in 2022, which should allow Android games to be ported to Windows PCs, in addition to laptops and tablets running the operating system.

The Google Play Games app promises nifty features, such as the ability to resume games on Windows devices right off the point where you left them on your Android phone or tablet. What’s even more impressive is that Google hasn’t sought assistance from Microsoft to develop this app, and instead done all the heavy lifting on its own. This is a terrific move on the Android maker’s part to render its video game library more accessible to Windows users.

“Starting in 2022, players will be able to experience their favorite Google Play games on more devices: seamlessly switching between a phone, tablet, Chromebook, and soon, Windows PCs,” revealed Greg Hartrell, Google’s Product Director of Games on Android and Google Play, while speaking to The Verge. “This Google built product brings the best of Google Play Games to more laptops and desktops, and we are thrilled to expand our platform for players to enjoy their favorite Android games even more.”

Hartrell further clarifies that Google Play Games will be a native Windows app that supports Windows 10 and newer. Google thankfully hasn’t baked any special Windows 11-only integration into the app. It’s a genuine relief to learn that upgrading to the rather buggy Windows 11 won’t be a prerequisite to this cross-platform experience.

Meanwhile, Google’s Product Director for Games assures that the app won’t be employing a simple game streaming workaround, and that the Android games will run locally on the Windows systems. Google had teased the app during The Game Awards that streamed earlier today, but more details will be revealed closer to its launch scheduled on an unspecified date in 2022.

Google’s cross-platform gaming move comes hot on the heels of Microsoft itself working on integrating Android apps into Windows 11. The company had recently partnered with Amazon to allow Windows users to install Android apps and games from the Amazon store. The software giant has already baked features into Windows 11 to allow Android app integration.

The Google Play Games app should open up Android gaming on Windows at a scope that goes beyond the deal struck between Amazon and Microsoft.