Google Play Games: What's Next for Android Gamers?

Google has a history of retiring apps, sometimes even popular ones, and it looks like Google Play Games might be next. The tech giant has been quietly moving key features of Google Play Games into the Play Store. This shift was spotted by a tech expert who noticed that tracking achievements, a popular feature, is now available in the Play Store. Other features, like managing your gamer profile and following friends, are also on the way. Android users who love gaming might be wondering what this means for them. Well, it's a sign that Google Play Games might not be around much longer. The app, which has been a part of Android since 2013, could be phased out as Google integrates its features into the Play Store. This isn't the first time Google has done this. In 2024, the company retired at least eight apps and services. Now, don't get confused with Google Play Games for PC. That's a different beast. It's still in beta and is one of the few ways to play Android games on a PC, especially since Microsoft's Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) is no more. The Android app, however, has been around for a while and has seen better days. It hasn't gotten any major updates in a long time. So, when will Google pull the plug on Google Play Games? That's the big question. It's unlikely to happen before all the key features are moved to the Play Store. But with the year just starting, there's plenty of time for Google to make the switch. For now, gamers can keep an eye on the Play Store for updates and maybe even say their goodbyes to Google Play Games. It's a good time to think about how often Google changes its apps and what it means for users.